Which Type of Immunotherapy is Right for Your Allergies?
So you’ve tested positive for one or more allergens (the substance that causes your allergic reaction) and we know what you are allergic to. Now what?
Chances are that you have already tried over-the-counter medications or other OTC treatments that haven’t worked. So besides doing your best to reduce your exposure to your allergy triggers (which is not always possible), there are several methods for immunotherapy treatment to reduce and control your allergy symptoms.
What is Immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy for allergies is medical treatment designed to build your resistance to the cause of your allergy by safely introducing a small amount of the antigen(s) to which you are allergic, thereby creating protective antibodies that block your allergy symptoms when exposed to the allergens to which you’ve tested positive. The process of immunotherapy works on the same principle as a vaccination against a disease.
Immunotherapy is a process that takes place over a period of time, usually measured in years (typically 3-5 years). The good news is that, over time, immunotherapy results in a reduction or even elimination of your symptoms.
3 Types of Immunotherapy
There are three types of immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is usually continued to 3-5 years with all types of immunotherapy that are currently available.
Allergy Shots
Also known as subcutaneous immunotherapy (or SCIT), allergy injections (“shots”) are used to introduce a small amount of the appropriate concentration of allergens (in liquid form) that have been identified as significant based on your symptoms and the results in your allergy test. Typically, allergy shots will start 1-2 times per week and extend out over time to happen monthly.
The goal is to slowly elevate the amount of the allergen to what we call a “maintenance dose.” These injections are administered in our office by a licensed allergy technician under Dr. Webster’s supervision. While severe systemic reactions are very rare, there is a higher risk of systemic reactions with this type of immunotherapy, which is another reason that allergy shots are administered in our office under professional supervision.
This form of immunotherapy is covered by most insurance carriers.
Under-the-Tongue Allergy Drops
Also known as sublingual immunotherapy or “SLIT,” this treatment comes in the form of drops that are administered under your tongue. There are several advantages to this method of treatment, including:
- a quick buildup to your maintenance level
- can be used to address multiple allergens
- can be self-administered at home to you or your child
- doesn’t involve needles or injections
- more convenient
We will do your first treatment in our office and show you how to use the drops, whether for yourself or a child. You can then continue treatment on your own, with office check-in appointments only necessary every few months. The risk of severe reactions is very low with SLIT.
At this time, sublingual immunotherapy is not covered by most health insurance plans.
Tablets
Sublingual tablets are a form of sublingual immunotherapy in a dissolvable pill form. These are specially formulated medications that are not the same or available as over-the-counter allergy pills.
These tablets are currently available and FDA-approved only for allergy to dust mites, grass pollen, and ragweed. Each tablet medication can only be used for treatment of a single type of allergen, unlike allergy shots or under-the-tongue drops that can be formulated to treat multiple allergies at the same time, although sometimes immunotherapy tablets may be used in combination.
The duration is the same as traditional immunotherapy and the tablets are usually taken daily, either across the year or, in the case of seasonal allergies, for 12 weeks before and through the season where the allergen is most prevalent. Adverse reaction risk to these tablets is very low.
The FDA-approved tablet medications are covered by most health insurance plans.
Which Immunotherapy Treatment is Right for You?
Based on your allergy test results and your health profile, health history and discussions with Dr. Webster, he will discuss your options and make a recommendation, but ultimately this is a joint decision between you and Dr. Webster. Many factors are considered, including your availability and proximity to come to the office, your tolerance of shots, financial considerations, and your comfort with the safety profiles of each method of immunotherapy.
Call our office today at 541-808-3860 to make an appointment for allergy testing, or if you already have been tested, you can schedule an appointment to discuss your allergy immunotherapy options with Dr. Webster. You can also find out more about our allergy testing and treatment services here.