You may know that allergy shots have been used to treat allergies such as pollen, dust mites, and mold. Have you ever wondered if allergy shots also work for food allergies? Currently, the main way to manage food allergies is to completely avoid the food that causes the reaction. This can be difficult — especially when you're eating out or someone else is preparing your meal. The fear of a severe allergic reaction can make it even more daunting.

Fortunately, there are some other treatments currently being studied for people with food allergies — including a type of shot. Read on to learn more about allergy shots, emerging food allergy treatments, and other options that may offer relief.

What Are Allergy Shots?

Traditional allergy shots are often used to treat allergies to pollen, dust mites, and pet dander. These shots are a form of immunotherapy, a treatment that works by retraining your immune system.

When you have a food allergy, your immune system overreacts to specific proteins in foods, called allergens. Allergy shots introduce a tiny amount of the allergen to trigger a mild immune response. With each shot, the dose is gradually increased. This process, called desensitization, helps your body become less sensitive to the allergen.

Eventually, you’ll reach a specific amount of the allergen called a target dose, determined by your doctor. Once you reach this dose, you’ll maintain it for a few years, or as long as your doctor recommends. This ongoing exposure helps further desensitize your immune system and lowers the risk of severe allergic reactions.

Are There Allergy Shots for Food Allergies?

Food allergies can trigger severe reactions, including a life-threatening condition called anaphylaxis. While traditional allergy shots expose your immune system to allergens, they have proven dangerous for food allergies. Numerous attempts to use peanut protein in allergy shots have resulted in high rates of systemic reactions. As a result, allergy shots are generally not recommended for people with food allergies.

However, in February 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved omalizumab (Xolair) for the treatment of food allergies. Administered as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection, omalizumab works differently from traditional allergy shots. Instead of gradually increasing your tolerance, it blocks your immune system from reacting to the allergen, reducing the risk of a severe allergic reaction.

There is still a risk that omalizumab could cause anaphylaxis. For this reason, the first few doses are given in a medical setting. If no serious side effects occur, you may be able to administer the injections at home.

Are Allergy Shots Effective for Food Allergies?

Studies have shown that omalizumab works well for many people with food allergies. In clinical trials, 68 percent of people who were allergic to peanuts and treated with omalizumab were able to eat some peanut protein without having any major symptoms. However, 17 percent of people who received treatment did not see a change in how much peanut protein they could handle. So while the research is promising, omalizumab may not work for everyone.

While on this treatment, you should continue to avoid the food you are allergic to. Omalizumab can’t prevent every reaction, but it can lower the risk of one occurring. This can be helpful if someone is accidentally exposed to a food allergen.

What Other Treatments Are There for Food Allergies?

In addition to treatments like omalizumab, other treatments are being researched. Eventually, these treatments may provide more options for people with food allergies.

Oral Immunotherapy

Oral immunotherapy (OIT) has gained attention due to its potential to help with food allergies. In this treatment, you eat small amounts of the food you’re allergic to. The idea is that by slowly increasing the amount, the body will react less to the allergen.

Although OIT seems to be effective, it has some disadvantages. If you decide to use OIT, you have to continue to do the treatment for it to be effective. Since it involves eating the allergen, you may also have an allergic reaction during the treatment.

OIT is helpful with some food allergies, especially with peanuts and eggs. One OIT treatment, Palforzia, is FDA-approved for children and teens (ages 1 to 17) who have peanut allergies. The drug is a pill that has peanut powder inside. The amount of peanut powder is slowly increased over time so your body becomes less sensitive to peanuts.

Sublingual Immunotherapy

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) uses small amounts of the allergen, which is placed under the tongue. It has fewer negative side effects compared to OIT. However, OIT allows people to tolerate higher doses of allergens, compared to SLIT. There have been some promising results, but more research is needed to know how well it works for food allergies in the long term.

Epicutaneous Immunotherapy

Epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT) has been studied on people with peanut and milk allergies. This uses a patch that puts the allergen onto your skin. A few studies have shown that the patch was effective for children with peanut allergies. The results showed that they became less sensitive to peanuts.

Generally, the side effects have been minimal for studies of EPIT. Some people have experienced reactions on their skin where the patch was placed, but the reaction usually went away as their treatment went on.

Talk to Your Allergist

Although there is one shot for food allergies, it’s still relatively new and may not be recommended for everyone with food allergies. If you’re interested in omalizumab or other treatments for food allergies, discuss your options with your allergist or other health care provider. They can assess your situation and recommend the best approaches to your food allergy.

Find Your Team

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Have you tried allergy shots for food allergies? What treatments for food allergies have you used? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.