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How do you test for allergies and are allergy drops safe? How effective is Sublingual Immunotherapy? Find answers to the most common questions our patients ask.
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Allergy Drops FAQs
What is Allergy Drops Therapy?
Allergy Drops, is a highly effective allergy treatment taken as a drop under the tongue. Allergy Drops contains the same ingredients as allergy shots, but involves no needles or injections. Instead of a shot, a few allergy drops are placed under the tongue 3 times daily. Put simply, small doses of whatever you are allergic to are carefully put into your body until you build up immunity to it. Allergy Drops is also called Sublingual immunotherapy or “SLIT.”
What are the benefits of allergy drops?
- Safe and Effective: Allergy drops are safe for most people. The drops typically begin working within months, often only after a few weeks, and may eliminate allergies within three years.
- Convenience and Compliance: 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 doctor.
- Painless: Allergy drops may mean the end of avoiding medical care because of a fear of needles and the pain they cause.
- Less Expensive: Allergy drops are generally less expensive for everyone: patients, employers, and insurance carriers. The cost of weekly visits to the clinic for shots may be eliminated, and loss of workdays due to allergy attacks may also be avoided. The cost involved with over-the-counter allergy medications may also decrease due to allergy drops.
Are drops currently covered by my health insurance?
Because the allergy drops therapy method was introduced only recently in the United States, they are currently not covered by health insurance plans. However, as the costs of shot-based co-pays, insurance deductibles, and symptom-relieving medications continue to increase, allergy drops become a much more attractive option.
How do I switch from shots to drops?
If you are currently undergoing allergy shot therapy, you can easily switch to drops based on your current skin or blood test results. (Check with Allergy Solutions to see if you will require a new test.)
How do I order drops?
Because allergy drops are available by prescription only, you will need to visit Allergy Solutions Clinic before getting started. Your will be tested for allergies by conducting either a skin or blood test, in addition to asking a history regarding potential allergens. These tests are generally covered by most health insurance plans. After your allergy testing is complete, your customized allergy drops will be created and given to you.
Who may use allergy drops?
- Needle-phobic people
- Children of any age
- Asthma and allergic rhinitis sufferers
- People with numerous allergies, including mold allergies
- People who are not able to commit to weekly allergy shots
- People with an intolerance to the side effects of medications
What is an allergen?
An allergen is the substance that causes your allergies. Examples of allergens are: weeds, trees, grasses, molds, dust mites, and animal hair. Allergens are also referred to as antigens.
What are allergenic extracts?
Allergenic extracts are also called “biological drug substances”. They are the sterile products extracted or filtered by government licensed manufacturers from the source material containing the allergen.
Is sublingual immunotherapy safer than injection therapy?
Current data suggests that it is safer than injection therapy. In fact, one of the major advantages of sublingual immunotherapy is that it is considered so safe that it may be administered in your home. Also, there are no reported fatalities relating to SLIT.
How long will I need to take my drops?
Typically, patients will give themselves the drops once daily for three to five years until a tolerance is built up, at which time the allergic reaction may be eliminated.
Are the allergy extracts FDA approved?
Allergy Drops contain the same FDA-approved serums that are used for allergy shots. They are also prepared in the same manner as allergy shots. However, allergy drops use a different route of administration that has not been approved by the FDA. Many scientific studies from Europe and the United States have shown that allergy drops are highly effective and much safer than allergy shots.
How will the doctor know what allergies I have?
A skin or blood test is performed in order to determine your specific allergies.
Why do I need to sign a waiver?
Your physician may ask that you sign a waiver to ensure that you understand all of the recognized risks, out-of-pocket expenses, and the need for daily use of allergy drops for several years.
What are the cost benefits?
The cost of allergy drops is generally less than the cost of the combination of physician visits, gas, time, and allergy medications. Please note that insurance usually does not cover the cost of allergy drops, and this will most likely be an out-of-pocket expense.
