More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies. Symptoms like headaches, cough, itchy eyes, and breathing issues are often associated with allergies. Dealing with them can be frustrating and can have a negative impact on a patient’s life. While allergy medications are a great way to manage and control symptoms, they do not treat the root cause of the allergies. Allergy drops are one effective, safe, and affordable option to retrain your immune system to respond to allergens.
WHAT ARE ALLERGY DROPS?
Allergy drops, also called sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), are an alternative to allergy shots for certain patients. The drops are placed under the tongue and contain specific allergens selected based on the patient’s evaluation. Through controlled exposure over time, this treatment is designed to reduce the immune system’s sensitivity to those allergens. Allergy drops may help reduce allergic reactions and improve symptom management, although individual responses and treatment timelines vary.
THE BENEFITS OF ALLERGY DROPS
Allergy drops are a popular alternative to allergy medications because they provide various benefits for allergy sufferers. Allergy drops train your immune system to become less sensitive and reactive to a wide range of allergens. Additionally, it’s a more painless option and carries fewer risks as opposed to allergy shots, which are injected under the skin of the arm. Allergy drops are highly convenient and simple to administer at home, allowing any patient of any lifestyle to fit them into their busy schedules. Because of this, it also requires fewer trips to the doctor’s office and will not require you to take time out of your day. Lastly, allergy drops can address multiple allergies in one dose, increasing its factor of convenience.
TYPES OF ALLERGENS ALLERGY SHOTS AND DROPS TREAT
Allergy shots can treat allergies to bee stings, pollen, dust mites, pet dander, and mold. On the other hand, patients with allergies to house dust mites, short ragweed pollen, and grasses (orchard, timothy, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial rye, and sweet vernal) will benefit from allergy drops.
OUR IMMUNOTHERAPY OPTIONS
For over one hundred years, immunotherapy has been used to manage and treat various allergies. Immunotherapy works by exposing the immune system to allergens that create allergic reactions. This exposure helps your body develop a long-term tolerance to allergens. Our team of experts will use your medical history and comprehensive allergy testing to create and develop a unique treatment plan specifically tailored for you. We offer two immunotherapy options: allergy shots and allergy drops.
- Allergy Shots: Medical professionals in the doctor’s office administer allergy shots. These shots contain trace amounts of your allergens and are given in the upper arm of the patient.
- Allergy Drops: Allergy drops can be administered in the comfort of the patient’s home and are placed under the tongue, making it a more convenient alternative to allergy shots.
Both options are highly effective, safe, and offer long-lasting results. Although there are no allergy shots or drops that can address food allergies, either of these treatment options will address most other allergies.
BE IN CONTROL OF YOUR ALLERGY TREATMENT WITH ALLERGY DROPS
While allergy medications may help manage symptoms, allergy drops are designed to gradually reduce sensitivity to certain allergens over time. They work by exposing the immune system to small amounts of specific allergens and may help improve symptom management. Allergy shots and drops are both immunotherapy options, while allergy drops offer the convenience of at-home administration when prescribed and monitored by a qualified provider.
- Comfort: Allergy drops are extremely comfortable to administer. Unlike allergy shots, which involve needles and injections. All it takes is a small drop under your tongue for the magic, so to speak, to happen.
- Convenience: Allergy drops can easily be administered at home. Patients can skip booking appointments and taking time out of their busy days to be at the doctor’s office.
- Cost: While allergy shots and drops are in the same price range, the amount, time, and effort patients save from doing treatments at home can accumulate to rather huge savings in the long run.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF ALLERGY SHOTS AND DROPS?
Allergy sufferers will agree that dealing with allergies – whether that is due to pollen, pet dander, dust mites, or pollen – is very uncomfortable. It can cause sneezing, itchy eyes, and breathing issues among other symptoms, depending on the severity. Allergy shots and drops both offer the possibility of long-term relief, with only occasional and mild side effects to accompany it. Allergy shots can include side effects such as sneezing, coughing, tiredness, mucus dripping down the throat, and itching, swelling, and redness at the injection site. Allergy drops can cause side effects including mild mouth swelling and throat irritation.
CONTACT ENT & SINUS CENTER TODAY
At ENT & Sinus Center, it is our number one priority to help patients deal with uncomfortable allergy symptoms. We offer a full range of allergy treatments, addressing varying degrees of severity. Our team of experts will utilize your medical history, age, gender, and lifestyle along with comprehensive allergy testing to create a treatment plan specifically tailored to your needs. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Individual results may vary. Information on this website is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. In the event of a medical emergency, call 911.
