Sublingual Immunotherapy

What is SLIT?

Sublingual immunotherapy follows the La Crosse Method protocol by helping your body build a tolerance to the substances that cause your allergic reactions, opposed to masking your symptoms with traditional medications. With allergy drops, you simply place the liquid antigen under your tongue every day in the comfort of your own home. With the La Crosse Method Protocol, we use your specific blood test results to create a personalized dose for you that is high enough to be effective, but low enough not to cause a reaction. Just as no two patients are identical, your dose is created uniquely for you. SLIT desensitizes the body to allergens in the environment. 

Who Should Take SLIT?

Allergy drops are ideal for patients who want to treat multiple allergies at once, those who are tired of taking medications with temporary relief, those who find it difficult to avoid their allergens, and those who are looking to fix the root cause of their allergens. These include:

• Asthmatics
• Adults and children aged 2 and up
• Those with chronic conditions, including eczema, ear infections, and sinusitis
• Those with mold and food allergies
• Those with multiple environmental allergies, including dust mites, animal dander, and pollen

Reason to Intervene

It is recommended that allergies be treated early in a child’s life to prevent future allergic issues, as the likelihood of them developing other allergic conditions increases as they grow. The allergic march is the idea that allergies progress and change over time – eczema as an infant can turn into asthma, rhinitis, anaphylactic food allergies, and more as a child grows. By intervening early and desensitizing the body to allergens, it can help them not only feel better but it can increase productivity at school, ensure a child is safely included in activities, and can give you peace of mind when you’re away from your child. Sublingual immunotherapy gets to the root cause of allergies instead of a band-aide to symptoms.  It is safe, convenient, affordable and leads to a better quality of life for you or your child. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Check out a few of our most recently asked questions below. 

Are Allergy Drops safe?

“SLIT has been used in the US for over a hundred years and there are hundreds of research studies that have been published in the US and internationally with no reported life-threatening reactions in more than one billion delivered doses. The World Health Organization and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality have both endorsed allergy drops as an alternative to allergy injections.” You can read the research here. 

How long will I need to take my drops?

The typical recommendation for SLIT is three times daily for three to five years. Patient’s symptoms typically resolve within the first few months of therapy; however, adherence is key in maintaining this resolution/desensitization. This occurs over another one to two years before the therapy is stopped completely. Your level of sensitivity, type of allergy, and adherence are also factors that play a role in duration of treatment. Treatment may take 5 years or longer for patients with more complex and severe allergies. 

How do I start?

You will need to schedule a consultation with your provider who will perform a thorough medical history, physical exam, and specialized blood tests to determine if you are a candidate for SLIT and to recommend the appropriate treatment plan. If allergy drops have been recommended, your provider will send a prescription to Allergychoices Pharmacy to ensure high integrity and quality in your custom-formulated prescription which will be mailed directly to you. Your provider will monitor you every 90 days to assess when you are ready to have your dose increased and when your body has built its long-term tolerance and therapy can be complete. 

Will Insurance Cover This Treatment?

Most insurances cover specialty blood testing; however, they typically do not cover allergy drop prescriptions. Prescriptions are affordable and vary from $149-$189 every 90 days and cost less than life-long allergy medication and lost time from work/school. Health savings accounts and Flex spending accounts (FSA/HAS) are great options to help cover the cost of allergy drops. It is recommended that you check with your insurance company regarding your coverage.