Ear, Nose, Throat, and Sinus Specialists
ALLERGY DROPS (Sublingual Immunotherapy)
Sublingual Immunotherapy (Allergy Drops)
Immunotherapy is the only treatment with the potential to permanently cure allergies. The therapy works by retraining your immune system to tolerate and ignore your allergy triggers. Small amounts of the allergens are slowly introduced to your immune system in a way that bypasses your nose and lungs. The 2 methods used for immunotherapy in the United States are allergy shots, and allergy drops. Shots are administered in your physician’s office weekly. You must be monitored for 30 minutes after the shot, in case of a severe reaction. Allergy drops are applied at home, under the tongue, once daily.
Both allergy shots and allergy drops are effective. Shots require you to visit your doctor’s office once a week. Each visit usually require you to miss work or school, spend money on co-pays and gas, and adjust your schedule. After each injection, you must spend 30 minutes under observation, in case of a life-threatening reaction. Allergy drops (sublingual immunotherapy) are taken in the comfort of your home. They are placed under the tongue for 2 minutes, and then swallowed. Drops are clinically proven to be safer than shots, they are painless, and tasteless. Allergy drops are particularly desirable for pediatric patients.