Hate Allergy Shots? Try Allergy Drops!
- Posted on: Jul 11 2016
Many people are familiar with allergy shots but allergy drops are becoming more popular for many reasons.
Allergy shots, the mainstay of treatment of severe allergies for decades, stimulate the patient’s immune system into developing antibodies to block their allergic reactions. This therapy can be very successful, but unfortunately it requires weekly visits to the doctor’s office as well as the need for injections.
Research and clinical experience in Europe led to the development of allergy drop therapy. It was discovered that special cells that exist beneath the lining under the tongue can also stimulate the immune system to create these same allergy blocking antibodies. Instead of weekly visits and shots the patient can safely use the allergy drops under the tongue once daily to relieve their allergy complaints.
Anyone who has allergy symptoms and would like an alternative to all of the typical allergy medicines is a good candidate for allergy drops. It’s especially helpful in patients who are not getting enough relief from the usual allergy treatments. It is safe even in patients who normally can’t take allergy shots such as those on Beta Blockers.
Allergy drop therapy is especially beneficial in kids! Kids don’t want a shot. Missing school to get a shot is even worse! Allergy drop therapy has been shown to be effective at any age and may also be protective against the development of asthma. The drops are also sweet and easy to apply once a day as part of your morning routine.
Just as with allergy shots, the first step is to confirm a patient’s allergies through allergy testing. This can be done without needles with modern testing. Then, a custom-mixed vial of drops is then prepared for the patient. The patient takes drops under the tongue daily. During the first 8 days, the dosage is gradually increased. After that, the patient takes the same dose of drops each day. The allergy drops can be mailed to the patient each quarter, eliminating the need to drive to the doctors office.
If you have held off having your allergies tested because the hassle and pain of shots were not for you, consider the use of allergy drop therapy as a nice alternative.
Daniel Slaughter, MD
Tagged with: allergies, Allergy drops, Allergy drops for kids, Allergy testing, Pediatric ENT
Posted in: Allergies, Allergy Drops
