We get it. Not everyone likes needles. In fact, some people are absolutely terrified of needles. If the idea of getting your blood drawn or going for your annual flu shot has you paralyzed with fear, then you should consider SLIT.
Allergy shots without the shots, Sublingual Immunotherapy will help you rid yourself of environmental allergy symptoms more permanently. After all, while you can do your best to keep the house clean and free of allergens, when the allergy forecast is bad, as it often is here in Buffalo, NY, you’re going to want a more effective solution.
What is SLIT?
You will receive small doses of the allergen in the form of a tablet that must be taken under the tongue. Your physician will ask you to hold the tablet underneath your tongue for a couple minutes and then swallow.
Why Would I Use SLIT Over Traditional Allergy Shots?
There are a number of significant differences between SLIT and allergy shots.
While allergy shots are known to work about twice as well as allergy drops, you’ll need to come into the doctor’s office once or twice a week for three to five months and then once or twice a month for another three to five years to receive injections under doctor’s supervision. Since SLIT involves no injections though, you can take them at home on your own. On the other hand, you’ll only take one tablet once a day during the same amount of time if you choose sublingual immunotherapy.
Which Forms of SLIT Are FDA-Approved?
SLIT is a relatively new form of immunotherapy, so there aren’t treatments available for every type of allergen. Currently, the only FDA-approved SLIT tablets are designed for ragweed, dust mites, and northern pasture grasses like timothy.
Your dosage will depend on your allergy. If you suffer from grass or ragweed allergies, you’ll only have to take the medication before and then during allergy season. However, if you struggle with dust-mite allergies, you’ll have to take the tablets year-round. Though it usually takes about 3-5 years to actually develop an immunity, if you repeat the process regularly, you should eventually enjoy more lasting relief.
While over-the-counter allergy medicine can be useful, you’ll end up saving more money and time in the long-run if you invest in immunotherapy. Thankfully, with SLIT, you can now benefit from allergy shots here in Buffalo without ever getting a shot.