For some people, allergies are a yearly nuisance. But for many others, allergies are debilitating or even life-threatening. Millions of allergy sufferers each year are recommended to try SubLingual ImmunoTherapy, or SLIT.
Sublingual Immunotherapy Explained
Allergy symptoms occur when a harmless substance, such as pollen or dust, enters the body and the immune system mistakes it for a germ or other threat to your health. In response to this perceived threat, your immune system launches an attack to flush it out, resulting in sneezing, a runny nose, itchy skin and other common allergy symptoms.
Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that desensitizes your immune system to the triggering substance by introducing it in small doses over time. SLIT is administered orally: it is “dripped” under the tongue and swallowed, earning it the nickname “allergy drops.” At first, the dosage will be quite low, and it will increase over time as your resistance to the allergen grows.
SLIT Duration and Efficacy
When you begin treatment with SLIT, your first dose will be given to you at your allergist’s office, so they can show you the proper way to take your dose and monitor you for potential adverse reactions after you take it. After that, they will give you a bottle of the liquid, and you’ll continue SLIT from the comfort of your own home. You’ll take a dose every day for three to five years.
SLIT is considered highly effective and delivers high rates of patient satisfaction1. It is more effective than a daily antihistamine or other over-the-counter allergy treatment, as it treats the underlying cause of allergies, rather than preventing symptoms. Additionally, once you complete your SLIT regimen, you should enjoy a permanently reduced reaction, if not a complete absence of allergy symptoms, while antihistamines require ongoing use with no end in sight.
Who Is a Candidate for SLIT
Anyone with allergies can be a candidate for SLIT, but it is especially recommended for people with a single allergen that causes most of their symptoms, as the SLIT liquid contains only that allergen and desensitizes you to it.
The people who most often begin SLIT treatment are the people for whom over-the-counter medicines are insufficient or simply don’t work to manage their symptoms. SLIT can also be a huge benefit to those who have severe allergy symptoms, such as asthma or anaphylaxis, making the spring hazard-free and enabling them to enjoy going outdoors again without fearing for their health and safety.
It is not recommended for pregnant or nursing people to start taking SLIT, and if someone is already taking SLIT and becomes pregnant, they should speak to their allergist right away about how to manage dosage during the pregnancy2.
How Can I Get Started with SLIT?
The first step to getting started with SLIT is to come in for an allergy test to confirm which allergen or allergens are triggering your symptoms. Once that information is known, your allergist can mix the SLIT liquid with your known allergens, and you can begin treatment. Contact Albany ENT & Allergy Services today to learn more about SLIT or to schedule an allergy test.
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1 Saporta D. (2016). Sublingual Immunotherapy: A Useful Tool for the Allergist in Private Practice. BioMed research international, 2016, 9323804. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/9323804
2 Sublingual Immunotherapy – Allergy Drops. (2023, March 22). Www.hopkinsmedicine.org. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/seasonal-allergies/could-allergy-drops-be-the-key-to-allergy-relief