How Do Allergy Drops Work?

Similar to allergy shots, allergy drops expose you to small doses of antigens that gradually help you build a tolerance against the things you’re allergic to. Also known as sublingual immunotherapy, allergy drops are considered a safer alternative to allergy shots as they enter the bloodstream at a much slower pace. This can reduce your risk of experiencing an anaphylactic response. Moreover, administering allergy drops is painless and convenient since they can easily be done at home.

When using allergy drops for children, be sure to consult professionals from The Sinus & Allergy Wellness Center to ensure that you’re administering the proper dose.

How To Use Them

Knowing how to administer allergy drops is just as important as knowing how allergy drops work.

Allergy drops are simple to use: all you need to do is place small drops under the tongue and wait for its effects to occur. However, keep in mind that it must be done regularly, and the doses should be gradually increased as instructed by your physician.

Compared to medications such as antihistamines, small doses of allergens administered through sublingual immunotherapy can possibly treat the condition itself as exposure to what makes you allergic will allow you to become less sensitive to these triggers. However, it is important to note that permanent treatment can only occur when allergy drops are administered properly.

When using allergy drops, some people experience relief within a few months, while it might take longer for others to experience reduced symptoms. How long your treatment will last often depends on the type of allergic condition you have and how severe it is. The important thing to remember is to follow proper treatment guidelines to fully benefit from using allergy drops.

Work with healthcare professionals from Sinus & Allergy Wellness Center to know more about how allergy drops work and how to administer a proper dosage.

What Does It Help

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved most allergy drops in the US. There are only four allergens that the FDA has approved treatments for:

• Ragweed
• Dust mites that cause allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis
• Timothy grass
• A combination of five grass species

In some cases, doctors may prescribe patients with “off-label” allergy drops, which are completely legal. However, the catch is that your health insurance might not cover these off-label drops since they haven’t been approved by the FDA.

Why They Work

Since allergy drops are administered on the area under the tongue — referred to as the sublingual mucosa or the “privileged” area — they can target the specific body part that contains the highest concentration of antigen or allergen cells. These cells, called dendritic cells, are messengers that expose allergens to T cells, resulting in either allergic tolerance or an allergic state. Because allergy drops come in small doses that increase gradually, they build tolerance instead of inducing an allergic reaction to combat allergens.

Allergy Drops Benefits

Allergy drops have various benefits that can be experienced by infants and children, asthmatics, people with multiple allergies, and people who cannot take allergy shots. Some of these benefits include the following:

Convenience

Allergy drops are far more convenient than allergy shots since the former doesn’t require a trip to the clinic. They can be administered at home, which can be of great help to busy parents who might not have time to take their child to a hospital or to adults who may be too busy to schedule regular appointments.

Additionally, since there are no injections required, allergy shots can be an alternative option for people who cannot take allergy shots, as well as children who may be afraid of injections.

Affordable

Since you don’t have to go to the clinic, allergy drops tend to be a more affordable route. Additionally, building your tolerance against allergens will reduce your need to take other allergy medications, though it is safe to do so. In case you’re wondering about the safety of taking allergy drops with other allergy medications, you can always check in with the Sinus & Allergy Wellness Center.

Safe

Due to their slow movement within the bloodstream, allergy drops are considered safer than allergy shots as the former can cause fewer side effects. In fact, allergy drops have been in existence for more than a hundred years and can be administered to children as young as four.

Consult With Healthcare Professionals

Allergy drops can be an easy, safe, and effective way to build immunity against allergies, provided the proper treatment plans are followed regularly. Depending on your condition, you may be able to feel reduced symptoms within a few months.

If you want to know the proper dosage and medication for your allergies, you may contact Sinus & Allergy Wellness Center by visiting our website, contacting us or calling 480-493-4941 to schedule an appointment with an ENT doctor.