{"id":255,"date":"2019-07-03T11:36:51","date_gmt":"2019-07-03T17:36:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/santafeent.fm1.dev\/allergy\/allergy-testing\/"},"modified":"2020-01-09T14:56:51","modified_gmt":"2020-01-09T21:56:51","slug":"allergy-testing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/santafeent.com\/sinus-allergy\/allergies-overview\/allergy-testing\/","title":{"rendered":"Allergy Testing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The only way to treat your allergy symptoms is to determine exactly what is causing them. This is done through a series of allergy tests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Allergy drops: an alternative to shots?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Allergy\ndrops, or sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), are drops prepared from allergen extracts\nthat are the same allergen extracts that are used in subcutaneous shot\nimmunotherapy.  Instead of shots, they\nare placed under the tongue for approximately two minutes and then swallowed.  Sublingual immunotherapy has been used in\ncountries outside of the US for several decades. Allergy drops are endorsed by\nthe World Allergy Organization and more information can be found at their\nwebsite at: www.worldallergy.org<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How\nare allergy drops different than medications?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allergy\ndrops (SLIT) are different from other over-the-counter or prescription allergy\nmedications as they are made up of the allergens present in the pollen, dust\nmite or animal dander for which the patient has allergic reactions.   They are administered in gradually\nincreasing doses to induce tolerance in the immune system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\ndrops are meant to reduce the overactive allergic branch of the immune system\non a permanent basis. By changing the way the immune system responds to the\nallergens patients experience improvement in their allergy symptoms. They are\nnot designed or effective for immediate relief of symptoms, and this means the\npatient taking allergy drops (SLIT) should still take their usual medications\nas directed by their physician until tolerance is built up over the first 3-6\nmonths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the difference between allergy shots and allergy drops?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allergy\nshots are given by subcutaneous injection while drops are placed under the\ntongue.  The extracts that are used for both are the SAME, although the\ndosing and the frequency at which they are administered are different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allergy\ndrops will be taken every day, while shots are initially given weekly and\neventually every 2-4 weeks.  The key difference is that allergy shots must\nbe administered in an office setting while allergy drops can be administered at\nhome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common side effects<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most\ncommon side effects are mild and include throat irritation, oral itching\/irritation,\noral numbness, mild swelling under the tongue, and tongue itching. In very rare\ncases this can progress to a reaction that involves the entire body that\nrequires the use of epinephrine.  Generally,\nthese mild reactions occur during the initial phase of increasing the dosing\nand then go away once the patient is on the maintenance dose which is when they\nare taking the same dose every day.  This\nmaintenance dose occurs during the first month of starting the allergy drops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are allergy drops FDA approved?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although\nthe same allergen extracts are used for allergy drops that are used for allergy\nshots, drop immunotherapy is a non-FDA approved method of delivering the liquid\nantigen.  Use of allergy extracts under\nthe tongue has recently received FDA approval but only for a few tablet forms\nof allergens, such as ragweed, timothy grass, and dust mite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are they effective?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\nhave been several studies looking at individual allergens and allergy drops\n(SLIT). These studies have shown in most cases a significant improvement in\nsymptoms and decrease in medications needed. \nIt\u2019s harder to generalize the results of allergy drops (SLIT) as\ncompared to shot immunotherapy as there are no \u2018head-to-head\u2019 studies comparing\nthe two methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are they safe?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although\nthere is a very small chance of having a systemic reaction to the allergy\ndrops, to date there have been no reported deaths associated with the drugs\nused in Europe. We still recommend obtaining an auto injectable epinephrine\ndevice to be used in case of a severe or systemic reaction when you first start\nusing the allergy drops (SLIT).  In\ngeneral, the reactions to allergy drops are probably less problematic than\nthose reactions occurring with shot immunotherapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who should take allergy drops?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allergy\ndrops can be safe and effective for many allergy sufferers, however there are a\nfew people who will do especially well. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n