Alester Brown

What is Sublingual Allergy Immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy has been used for many years to treat allergies, bringing relief to people who know the difficulties of sneezing, watery eyes, skin irritation and other allergy symptoms. For most allergy sufferers, immunotherapy has traditionally involved taking daily medications or receiving injections at a doctor's office.

These days, however, medical science allows some allergy medicines to be delivered through drugs that are placed under the tongue. So-called sublingual immunotherapy solutions provide a faster way to get relief from allergy symptoms, and they may also replace doctor visits for injections.

Better Dosage Control Means Greater Immunity

Aside from the advantage of being able to take prescription allergy medicines at home, sublingual immunotherapy can also provide the benefit of dosage control to strengthen immunity. As the dosage of sublingual medications is increased over time, the body builds up natural immunity to allergens. This may ultimately help the body regulate its immune response to allergens and reduce overreactions that can lead to uncomfortable allergy symptoms.

Tablets and Drops May Be Available

When delivered sublingually, allergy medicines can either be available as liquid drops or dissolvable tablets. Currently, tablets that are placed under the tongue are only suitable for allergies to things like ragweed pollen, dust mites and certain grasses.

Allergy drops can be used to treat a wider variety of allergens, but it should be noted that sublingual allergy drops are not currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States. They are, however, used in Europe, and doctors often prescribe these medications for off-label use.

Speak With Your Doctor

To find out what options are available to treat your allergy symptoms using immunotherapy medications, you're encouraged to speak with your doctor. Certain treatments may carry more risk than others, and even allergy testing can carry a certain amount of risk. As such, any treatments you receive for allergies should be carried out according to your medical history under your doctor's supervision.

Disclaimer: The above is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor to learn about the immunotherapy solutions that are right for you.

Author Resource:-

Alester Brown is a certified immunotherapist. She advises people on personalized home allergy and skin treatment at home. You can find her thoughts at allergy care blog.