What is Sublingual Drops or SLIT?
Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a biological treatment for environmental allergies. It is the awesome way to get rid of symptoms without medication. It also is long-lasting treatment working for years after the treatment course.
Allergen immunotherapy allows for the body to become desensitized by exposing the body to small amounts of the allergen and increasing its tolerance to them. SLIT is also an alternative immunotherapy option for people who could not tolerate allergy shots or could not maintain the schedule.
SLIT is placed under the tongue as a liquid drop form daily. This way it trains immune system to become “tolerant” to the proteins (cat, dog, cochroach etc.) that caused the allergy in the first place. Symptoms start going away almost immediately after the person advances to the top dose (usually a month). SLIT is commonly referred to as “allergy drops.”
How is SLIT made?
SLIT is prepared individually to treat your specific allergies. SLIT treatment serum is an individual prescription with major allergens mixed with glycerin (which acts as a preservative) in a dropper bottle. There can be up to 4 different bottles made for each person based on their allergens. For example, an Indoor treatment bottle can contain cat, dog and dust mite allergens, An Outdoor Spring bottle may contain grasses mix, birch and juniper extracts, an Outdoor Fall bottle can have ragweed, Russian thistle, sage and Mugwort mix. Whenever it is possible we mix all needed allergens in one bottle.
We are able to make SLIT for a variety of allergens, including molds and small house pets. An individual dose selection allows us to provide a safe treatment even for patients with severe allergies and asthma who cannot tolerate conventional allergy shots. This allergy treatment is safe and effective for pregnant women and children from 2 years of age!
Dr Kushnir worked as a scientist in the Immunology laboratory at NIH, and has exceptional skills in combining a perfect formula and mixing it for you. By monitoring your response to the drops Dr Kushnir can adjust concentration and ingredients if needed at any time.
Is SLIT a medicine?
Yes and NO. It is indeed a treatment which re-educates immune cells to react normally to normal proteins by delivering tiny pieces of these "allergens" into saliva and lymph nodes and teaching cells not to attack. As time goes by more cells become "normal" and stop allergic behavior.
SLIT is definitely not a pharmaceutical treatment and does not have any chemicals in it. It is also not classified as a naturopathic treatment, as it is acknowledged as a conventional allergy treatment in Europe. A Medical License is necessary to purchase antigen - the main component of SLIT. But it is an absolutely natural treatment that does not have any systemic side effects. SLIT is a great alternative to allergy shots - the same serum is used and the same effect is achieved, only SLIT is much safer and can be done at home.
Allergy serum is a commercial extract made by the immunotherapy companies. We buy only the finest serums that are standardized and FDA approved. There are many serums we keep in stock as common allergens, but we also can order custom serums of uncommon allergies, such as mosquito allergy.
When you receive your first prescription you need to come into the office to be trained how to use it, and to receive the first dose. A physician or medical staff will observe you for 30 min for any reactions. You will get the schedule of doses and explained what the color-coding is. After that – you take off. So, you don’t need to cancel your vacation to get treatment. Take SLIT with you.
Does SLIT interacts with other treatments?
SLIT does not interacts or interferes with other treatments and has no counterindications. This allergy treatment can be continued if you need blood pressure medication, IVF treatment, cancer treatment, surgery or implant. The only time you need to stop it if you have problems swallowing, dental surgery, vomiting or ulcers in the mouth.
A special consideration goes to children and adults with poor hand-eye coordination, or cannot hold saliva in the mouth. In such situation Doctor will decide how to resolve the issue or if SLIT can be administered.
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