What Are the Treatment Options for Allergies?
After diagnosing your allergies, our team will discuss various treatment options tailored to your needs. We can start with various oral medications or nasal sprays. We can also initiate avoidance and environment modification strategies. Sometimes patients need more or prefer a simpler strategy. This involves treatment called immunotherapy.
Allergy Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is an approach to treating allergies that aims to address the root cause rather than just alleviating symptoms. It works by gradually reeducating your immune system to tolerate allergens better. During immunotherapy, your body is introduced to a little of your allergen over a long period to “retrain” your body to identify it as harmless. This is the only form of medical management that treats your allergies rather than controlling symptoms. The frequency of immunotherapy varies based on the specific approach (shots, tablets, or drops).
Allergy Shots
Allergy shots, or subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT), involve regular injections of gradually increasing doses of the allergen. This method helps your immune system become less sensitive to the allergen over time, providing long-term relief from allergy symptoms. These shots are the oldest and most established form of allergy immunotherapy. A small amount of the allergen (e.g., pollen) is injected beneath your skin. Over time, the concentration of the allergen increases gradually. Immunotherapy is a long-term commitment, but it can significantly improve your quality of life by reducing allergic symptoms over time.
Allergy Drops
Allergy drops, known as sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), involve placing drops of the allergen under your tongue. This method offers the same benefits as allergy shots but without injections, making it a convenient option for many patients.
Allergy Tablets
Currently, FDA-approved SLIT – tablets options are only available for ragweed, grass, and dust mites. For SLIT – tablets, you will place a tablet containing the allergen under your tongue until it dissolves. Over time, the concentration of the allergen increases gradually.
