| |
SUBLINGUAL IMMUNOTHERAPY (aka Allergy Drops)
Introduction
Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT for short) is the name given to allergy vaccines that are administered orally. In this case the patient literally “drinks the shots”, as the vaccine is administered as oral allergy drops that are placed under the tongue (i.e. sublingually) kept there for a certain amount of time and then swallowed. Some medical authors call this route of administration “sublingual-swallow immunotherapy”, which perhaps best describes the characteristics of this treatment modality but common use establishes that sublingual immunotherapy refers to this combination of keeping the allergy drops under the tongue and then swallowing them.
SLIT is a unique immunotherapy treatment modality that combines extreme safety with efficacy. It is easy to administer. It is the ideal home-based immunotherapy, avoiding transportation to and from the office, waiting after each shot at the doctor’s offcie, and the need to pay weekly co-pays. By not using needles, people that cannot tolerate injections can now become candidates for immunotherapy. It is useful in special situations like the patient with asthma, (where it perhaps should be consider the treatment of choice), as well as for patients on betablockers, or having physical or logistical difficulties in coming to the doctor’s office on a weekly basis. Its taste is sweet which facilitates treatment of children.
The treatment protocol used at our office proves to be extremely safe and highly effective. Patients as young as 2 years old have been successfully treated with our protocol, as well as many patients with asthma. (More specific information on our treatment protocol can be read in the August 2007 issue of the ENT Journal)
More Allergy Drops Information
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: www.aafa.org
|
