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Allergy Shots

My grandmother is turning 90 next week and as far as the doctors can find is in good health. She doesn't believe them! She has problems with dizziness, weakness, and drainage down the back of her throat. Her doctor agreed she probably has some kind of allergy and has tried a few allergy medications but they didn't seem to help much. Entex LA did help with the drainage but she stopped it after my aunt read that it could cause dizziness.

She belongs to an HMO and they don't want to do testing because of her age and said allergy shots wouldn't help her much.

Can allergy shots help someone who is 90?

I have really severe allergies with the same symptoms as my gram plus a few more and the shots really seemed to help me. What do you think?

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Beth

Dear Beth,

Thanks for asking about allergy symptoms and allergy shots in the elderly.

Allergy may occur at any age. It is most important to make a diagnosis in order to treat patients correctly. Diagnostic allergy skin tests can help to make the exact diagnosis in most cases, even in the elderly.

It seems unfair to discriminate against some one on the basis of their age!

I rarely need to use allergen immunotherapy injections in patients above 60 years, since they respond very rapidly to available medications. But just because I do not use allergy injections is not a reason not to test a patient.

I hope this information helps you and your grandmother.

Good luck.

Steve Kagen, M.D.
Allernet.com