What are Allergy Drops?

Allergy drops are also known as “sublingual immunotherapy”. Allergy drops are a convenient form of allergen immunotherapy that works by putting small amounts of allergen (the substances that cause your allergies) under your tongue. Specialized cells under the tongue called capture the allergens and signal the immune system to start building tolerance.  This is a similar idea to getting immunizations.  You subject yourself to a small amount of allergens every day- not enough for your body to have a major reaction- but just enough to tell your immune system to fight the allergies.

What are the benefits of allergy drops?

Allergy drops have been proven to be both safe and effective for many types of allergies. The drops typically begin relieving symptoms within the first year, but sometimes these effects are even noticed within a few months.

Once-a-day allergy drops are portable and easy to use. You may use them in the comfort of your own home. This will help you follow your treatment plan, and increase your ability to continue therapy as directed by your prescriber.

No need to worry about soreness from injections, or concerns with needles.

Who May Use Allergy Drops?

  • Children and adults
  • People with multiple allergies, including pollens, molds, pet dander, dust mites, or food
  • People who are not able to commit to weekly allergy shots or prefer a more convenient therapy
  • People with side effects to allergy medications or reactions to allergy shots
  • Allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, conjunctivitis or asthma sufferers

 

Allergy Drops- Patient Testimonial

Read the following patient testimonial about the benefits of allergy drops:

“I’ve had spring allergies for over 35 years. I am very surprised that allergy symptoms improved dramatically in less than 1 year. I have increased energy, sleep better, and am physically more comfortable with my spring allergies. I use only a few eye or allergy medications if needed.”

Thomas E., VT

Take the next steps to treat the cause of your allergies with allergy drops.  Allergy immunotherapy is a great investment in your health and well-being.

Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT)/Allergy Drops

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is the latest, most convenient treatment option to treat allergies. SLIT is often referred to as allergy drops.  This treatment replaces the need for allergy shots by allowing you to self-administer the drops under your tongue once-daily.

Allergy drops reduce your need for weekly or monthly office visits that accompany out-dated allergy shots/injections.  Allergy drops can also improve long-term allergy control.  They may significantly reduce your need for prescription and over-the-counter allergy medications.

Ask your doctor about allergy drops today!

What is allergy immunotherapy?

Allergy immunotherapy is a form of long-term treatment that decreases symptoms for many people with allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, conjunctivitis (eye allergy) or stinging insect allergy.

Allergy immunotherapy treats the cause of your allergies, not just the symptoms. It builds tolerance by exposing your immune system to small amounts of what you’re allergic to on a regular basis. This can be done with weekly injections of “allergy shots,” the daily self-administration of “allergy drops” or “allergy toothpaste”, or by taking dry “allergy tablets”.

Over time, immunotherapy changes your immune system so that it is more “tolerant” of the allergens. As allergen tolerance grows, your allergies and their symptoms decrease, sometimes to the point that an allergy sufferer does not notice them anymore. Immunotherapy may also prevent conditions that often go along with allergies, like chronic sinusitis or asthma.

Food Allergy Awareness

I read a great blog post a few days ago, written by a guest blogger for FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education).  The blog post was written to encourage others to participate in Fare’s Food Allergy Heroes Walk.  The take-home message for me was simple- Create Awareness.

My first profession was that of an elementary school teacher.  I was young and single, with no children of my own.  My ‘awareness’ of food allergies was very limited.  I knew of food allergies, I’d heard of people being allergic to peanuts, but had no real understanding what that meant for a child with food allergies or a parent with a food-allergic child.  Due to my inexperience, I didn’t have any understanding that being in contact with a peanut, or peanut butter, or a child who just ate a peanut butter sandwich for lunch could produce such disastrous outcomes- anaphylaxis, emergency rooms, feeling like nobody understands.  I didn’t ‘get it’ when parents and organizations had wars with the airline industry about banning peanuts as snacks.  I just thought, “Well, don’t eat the peanuts then.”  I didn’t understand that there are people so allergic to peanuts that by simply breathing in the cabin air on an airplane could make them sick, or that by touching a seat-back someone touched who had recently eaten peanuts and then wiping their eyes, nose, or mouth could have a severe allergic reaction.  I also was not aware that there were treatments for food allergies, such as allergy drops/sublingual immunotherapy.

Many years have gone by since I was a teacher, and I’m now a mother of three children, who thankfully do not have food allergies.  However, I have become more ‘aware’.  Aware of the needs of individuals with food allergies, aware of the needs of individuals as a whole- the need for sympathy and understanding from others, no matter what their ‘cause’ may be.

If you’re looking for a FARE walk, please follow the link to find a location near you.

http://fare.foodallergy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=heroes_walk_active_events

Recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) recommends at least 3 years allergy immunotherapy

Allergy Drops-safe and effective

A February, 2017 allergy immunotherapy research study published in JAMA recommends that patients continue their subcutaneous (allergy shots) or sublingual (allergy drops) allergy treatment for at least 3 years for long term effectiveness.

Sources: Shortened dose of immunotherapy ineffective in allergic rhinitis,  All-American Allergy Alternatives, LLC