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 | After years of waiting, it appears the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is ready to approve two new products for the treatment of allergies: A sublingual grass immunotherapy tablet and a sublingual ragweed immunotherapy tablet. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), or also known as allergy drops, has been available world-wide for decades, and offered by some allergists (including myself) for many years. SLIT offers an alternative to allergy shots in that allergy drops can be administered at home based on their safety record. The new sublingual tablets, which are likely to be approved by the FDA in early 2014, will provide a treatment alternative to allergy shots for people with predominantly grass and/or ragweed allergy. It may take several more years until tablets are available for people with other allergies, such as cat, dog, dust mite, molds and other pollens. In the meantime, allergy shots continue to be the best way to take immunotherapy, and some allergists offering allergy drops (SLIT) as an alternative. |
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Sublingual Immunotherapy
Sublingual immunotherapy, or SLIT, is a form of immunotherapy that involves putting drops of allergen extracts under the tongue. Many people refer to this process as “allergy drops,” and it is an alternative treatment for allergy shots. This form of immunotherapy has been used for years in Europe, and recently has had increased interest in the United States. However, it is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States.
| Allergy Shots
When medications fail to adequately control allergy symptoms and avoidance of the trigger is not easy or possible, an allergist may recommend immunotherapy or “allergy shots”. This treatment consists of a series of injections containing small amounts of the substances to which a person is allergic. After a course of allergy shots, 80 to 90 percent of patients have less allergy symptoms, and in many cases their allergies have completely resolved. Allergy shots can be given for allergic rhino-conjunctivitis (nose and eyes), allergic asthma and insect sting allergies.
| Should I take allergy shots or allergy drops to treat my allergies?
Allergy drops, or sublingual immunotherapy, are becoming increasingly available in the United States as an alternative to allergy shots for the treatment of allergies. This therapy has been used safely and effectively in Europe for many years –- but has not become popular in the United States until recently. Allergy drops are not currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and therefore are considered an experimental therapy. However, given the wealth of medical studies showing the safety and efficacy of allergy drops for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis and allergic asthma, many allergists in the United States are offering this form of immunotherapy. Some people, therefore, may be given a choice between allergy drops and traditional allergy shots. Here are some comparison points between the two different therapies to consider when making a decision...
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