Get the facts. Reap the rewards.
This well-researched approach to immunotherapy is known as sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), and it has helped thousands of people worldwide combat the symptoms of allergies and chronic sinusitis. And while it’s a relatively new practice in the U.S., it has been successfully used in Europe for more than 30 years.
Much like injection therapy, sublingual immunotherapy delivers a slowly increasing dose of FDA approved antigen that over time can build the body’s tolerance to an allergen. Eventually, this desensitization to the allergen results in fewer symptoms and medication needs.
However, unlike injection therapy, and rather than administering shots, allergy drops are placed under the tongue and affect the immune system through the mouth—the dendritic cells through the oral mucosa—which research shows to be a friendlier and more effective route to building tolerance.
Allergy drops are not only painless—they’re simple to use and take next to no time to administer. Once an allergist establishes the nature of the allergies, there is not even a need for a monthly visit. And because treatment is so easy, patients are more likely to follow through and see results and enjoy an improved quality of life.
In addition, testing requires minimal lab work—usually just a single a blood draw—and limited need for skin tests.
Typically, a patient will self-administer their drops three times per day for three to five years—about the same length of treatment as injection therapy.
What makes AllergyCare unique is our use of new technologies that allow home based allergy testing that does not require office visits. Our TeleHealth Contact and history will guide appropriate testing and if desired, your allergy drops from our compounding pharmacy. Typical skin testing is not required with needles or injections.
Anyone who suffers from allergies and related illnesses can benefit from immunotherapy. But for those who cannot tolerate or don’t respond to allergy shots, it can be an extremely beneficial solution.
Infants and children: Treating young children in your practice may be the most rewarding reason to incorporate SLIT. Allergy drops have proven especially helpful for children with eczema and recurrent ear infections, which often have underlying allergic causes. Many children with untreated eczema and allergies develop asthma and other chronic conditions later in life, so treating them early can have life-long benefits.
Severe asthmatics: For asthmatics, SLIT can provide desensitization for triggers, which can moderate the need for asthma medication. And because of its safety profile, even severe asthmatics can be given a chance to reduce their symptoms. In at least eight studies, positive outcomes were reported when SLIT was used to treat asthma.
Patients with chronic conditions including sinusitis: Recent research as validated the long-standing view that chronic sinus conditions, mold sensitivities and allergies are connected. Treating the underlying allergic disease with SLIT has shown favorable results in patients with chronic sinus conditions.