Sublingual Immunotherapy
At Clear Lake Medical Center ENT, we offer sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). Medicated drops are customized based on the patient’s allergy profile on initial testing. Drops are provided for two months and self-administered underneath the tongue daily. No injections and no weekly or bi-weekly doctor visits are needed for treatment. SLIT provides our patients the convenience of improved allergy control in the comfort of their own home and without the disruptions to work, school, and other daily activities, as is often the case with the more traditional form of injections with subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT). Over time, the graduated physician-dosed antigens build the body’s tolerance to certain allergens.
SLIT FAQs
Immunotherapy behaves much like a vaccine to help your body adjust to exposure of allergens. The purpose of treatment is to decrease your body’s sensitivity to allergy-causing substances so that exposure to offending allergens results in fewer and less severe symptoms. It is often recommended if medications fail to provide relief from allergy symptoms for a significant enough amount of time. Currently immunotherapy is administered either by injection, oral drops or tablets.
IS SLIT TESTING SAFE AND EFFECTIVE?
Allergy drops have been proven safe and effective for over 30 years. They are endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), and extensive research has been done to show the safety and efficacy of this method.
Research has also shown that severe reactions are 3 times less likely to occur with sublingual immunotherapy versus allergy injections. Additionally, there have been no record of life-threatening anaphylactic reactions in over 30 years and 200 million doses of testing with sublingual immunotherapy.
It should be noted that improvement in symptoms will not be immediate. It usually requires 3 to 6 months before any relief of allergy symptoms is typically noted, at which time 80-90% of patients will note significant improvement of their symptoms.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF SLIT TESTING?
Advantages include ease of use with no needles or injections, decreased risk of anaphylaxis, convenience of self-administration at home, improved patient compliance, portability during travel, fewer doctor office visits and possible savings due to elimination of these visits. Studies have also shown that people are more compliant with allergy drops compared to allergy injections.
ARE ALLERGY DROPS COVERED BY INSURANCE?
Unfortunately, no. While the safety and efficacy of allergy drops for immunotherapy has been proven in Europe, the FDA has yet to approve it in the United States. Thus, the option for sublingual immunotherapy has not been approved for coverage by health insurance. The initial vial will cost $150 and each additional vial for maintenance therapy will cost $125. Each maintenance vial is expected to last approximately 2 months.
HOW DO I TAKE SUBLINGUAL IMMUNOTHERAPY?
Two to three drops are placed under the tongue daily.
WHAT DO THE ALLERGY DROPS TASTE LIKE?
For the majority of patients, there is very little taste at all, but for some patients, there is reported a slight sweetness.
HOW LONG SHOULD I UNDERGO SUBLINGUAL IMMUNOTHERAPY?
Similar to allergy injections, completion of sublingual immunotherapy takes approximately 3 to 5 years.
SLIT Consent Form
Required for all patients undergoing sublingual immunotherapy.
Epi-Pen Consent Form
Required for all patients undergoing sublingual immunotherapy.
Instructions for SLIT Use
Follow these instructions while undergoing sublingual immunotherapy treatment.