Why You Might Think Again About Steroids for Allergies

Allergies and related conditions like asthma and chronic sinus issues are miserable, and many providers do what they can to get you feeling better fast. One solution often prescribed by providers is steroids – both shots and nasal sprays – because patients can feel their symptoms reduce quickly.

But this doesn’t come without risk, as both have been shown to have short-term and long-lasting side effects. When there are other options out there, it may be a good idea to research your options, and this blog will help.

How Steroids Work

There are a few ways that steroids are used to treat allergies – and the big two are shots and nasal sprays or mists. The goal of the steroid, in both cases, is to reduce the amount of inflammation that is caused by an allergic reaction. The shots work throughout the body, whereas the nasal sprays are concentrated on the nasal passages and sinuses.

Neither option “fixes” the problem long-term; they provide short-term relief for those suffering from environmental allergens, and they can have some serious side effects. Since they suppress your immune response, which is your body’s defense against illness and infection, they can also make it tricky to identify signs of illness and infection.

Side Effects

Before starting any new medication, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons – in this case, feeling better from allergies is the pro, where the potential side effects are the con.

Steroid Shots

Steroid shots, or corticosteroids, can have a wide variety of side effects, including:

• • Anxiety
  • Swelling and redness in the face
  • Weight gain
  • Increased bruising along with skin thinning
  • Stomach upset

The more often you take steroid shots, the greater risk you have of developing long-term conditions like osteoporosis, diabetes, glaucoma, cataracts, and other serious conditions including cardiovascular issues. And if you have these conditions before you start taking steroid shots, be sure to talk with your doctor to make sure they’re the right treatment for you.

Steroid Nasal Sprays

Nasal sprays are inhaled in the nasal passages, so side-effects tend to land in that area, and include:

• • Dryness and redness
  • Nosebleeds
  • Irritation and itching
  • Headache

There can also be a long-term impact on the eyes, including risk of developing glaucoma and cataracts.

Alternative Options

Steroid treatments can be a helpful part of your treatment short term – long term use isn’t typically advised. While these may temporarily make you feel better, Allergychoices advocates for treating the root of the problem – the allergy itself – through allergy drop treatment that uses your own immune system to help you naturally relieve or even eliminate the allergic issue.

Allergy drops contain precise amounts of your problem allergens, discovered through allergy testing. That daily dose is optimized to provide enough stimulation to help build tolerance, but not enough to trigger negative reactions. Over time, the strength of each allergen is increased until the body learns to tolerate it and stop reacting when exposed.

Side effects are minimal, and when they do occur, typically mild: brief mouth or throat itching and occasional stomach upset. There has never been a life-threatening reaction reported following The La Crosse Method ™ Protocol.

The best part? When treatment is over, tolerance lasts, so you can enjoy fewer symptoms – or be symptom-free. The need for symptom-relievers or steroids can often be eliminated.

To learn more about this natural treatment, make an appointment with a provider near you that offers allergy testing and treatment.