Sublingual Allergy Drops
Sublingual immunotherapy, often called allergy drops, works like allergy shots by gradually helping your body build tolerance to the antigens or substance(s) that cause your allergies. The difference is that the antigen is placed under your tongue in a pain-free, customized liquid drop.
For most patients with allergies their symptoms can be controlled with environmental controls and/or over the counter medications like antihistamines and/or nasal steroids. However, for patients that these treatments do not work, the next option is immunotherapy. There are 2 types of immunotherapy – sublingual (SLIT) and subcutaneous (SCIT). Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) or “shots” have been the most common immunotherapy in the United States. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has been more popular in Europe, and it is becoming more common in the United States. Immunotherapy is typically done over 3-4 years, and are an option for people of all ages and conditions.
Advantages of allergy drops
An obvious advantage of SLIT/”drops” is that there are no needles. Thus, it's painless.
Another advantage is that there are a lot fewer and less severe allergic reactions doing “drops” than doing “shots”. For most patients doing SCIT/”shots”, they have to go into an office every time they get a treatment in order to be monitored for a reaction like anaphylaxis. Whereas, SLIT/”drops” are done at home. We have only noted a few mild reactions like itchy mouth when first starting SLIT/”drops”. These reactions resolved while continuing treatment. We also have several patients who could not advance on SCIT/”shots” secondary to various reactions; however, they tolerated SLIT/”drops”.
Lower cost, fewer clinic visits
An advantage of SLIT/”drops” is that a patient does not have to go in weekly or biweekly for an office visit like they do with SCIT/”shots”. SLIT/”drops” are not covered by insurance, but they end up being a lot cheaper than SCIT/”shots” since there are a lot fewer office visits over 3-4 years. Thus, patients not only save on the cost/copay of an office visit but also save on their time.
More convenient
Wherever you go, you can take your allergy drops with you. The convenience of allergy drops makes it much easier to stay with your treatment.
Less medication
Our patients report, and research confirms, that they typically need less medication to control their allergy symptoms after beginning allergy drops.
Enjoy healthier days
The end benefit of taking drops consistently? Feeling better, more productive and being able to enjoy life and the activities that allergies once disrupted.
Our office dispenses environmental allergy drops:
- environmental allergy drops – treats hay fever or allergies to things like dust mites, pollens, pet dander and molds, helping build tolerance to these substances.