An Injection-Free Choice for Allergy Treatment

With so many causes of sneezing, sniffling, congestion, headaches, asthma and potential reactions floating in the air months out of the year, it is easy to understand why people who suffer from allergies are looking for a treatment that makes their lives a little easier.

Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) can finally make allergy treatments work into your schedule, no needles necessary!

Sublingual (the medical term for under your tongue) Immunotherapy is an injection free allergy immunotherapy you manage in the comfort and convenience of your home. Immunotherapy is a treatment that decreases ones sensitivity to allergic triggers and is traditionally administered by injection. Instead of injecting allergy extract, an individually prescribed extract is dropped under your tongue, once a day.

This gradual administration of what one is allergic to helps your immune system to build up your own natural immunity, safely and effectively, making you less allergic.

Sublingual Immunotherapy is very effective in treating allergic rhinitis and asthma in children and adults caused by allergies to grasses, trees, weeds, molds, dust mites, and animal dander. SLIT is now available for peanut allergy, but not for any other food allergy at this time. SLIT cannot be used to treat hives, eczema, and allergy to stinging insects.

Allergy Extract – Your Personal Prescription for SLIT

At your visit with a board certified allergist of A&AS, you will most likely undergo allergy skin testing. Skin testing involves applying a small sample of an allergen (pollen, grass, animal dander, mold, food) onto your skin and assessing for a reaction, or a hive, to appear. The allergists of A&AS have access to samples of over 100 allergens and will determine which allergens you will be tested for based on your medical history, environmental survey and physical examination. Once the allergens are place on the skin of your back, the results are read in 20 minutes. If your results are positive for allergy, the allergist prescribes your allergy extract recipe using the same extract approved by the FDA for allergy injections.

Your allergy extract is a delicate balance between effectiveness and safety. If the wrong allergens are included or the concentration is too weak, the extract can be ineffective and your symptoms will not improve after a few months. Also, a concentration too strong could cause an undesired allergic reaction. The board certified allergists of A&AS have years of training and experience in developing effective and safe extract prescriptions based on each patient’s skin testing results and tolerance. A&AS is the region’s most trusted source for allergy extracts.

Administration

Administration of your SLIT extract is accomplished daily by placing a few drops under your tongue and holding it for a few minutes before swallowing.

Expectations

Medications such as antihistamines and decongestants can effectively treat allergy and asthma symptoms. When they are stopped, though, symptoms will likely return. Immunotherapy is a disease modifier – it can change the course of allergic diseases so the disease does not worsen and actually improve. Also, unlike medications, the benefits of Immunotherapy usually extend past the course of treatment. Over time, you experience a significant decrease in allergic reactions such as runny nose, congestion and cough.

Risks

The most common side effect you may experience is a few minutes of slight itching or tingling in your mouth. Otherwise, there is no threat of serious reactions. That is why it is safe to administer at home.

The physicians of Allergy & Asthma Specialists can evaluate your symptoms and work with you to create a strategy tailored to your needs. To schedule an appointment, contact us today at 610-825-5800.

Learn more about Allergy & Asthma Specialists here.

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