SLIT is a sublingual treatment for allergy - safe and natural
Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) is a natural treatment for allergy symptoms caused by allergens (substance that causes an allergic reaction.) Allergy shots (subcutaneous immunotherapy) have been a common treatment for environmental allergies in the United States for decades. Unlike allergy shots, SLIT treatment is dissolved under the tongue (sublingual) and can be taken in the comfort of the home and while on travel.
SLIT is as effective as traditional allergy shots. It starts working much faster (within 1-2 month you will feel the difference). An additional benefit to this therapy is that it eliminates the need for painful needle pokes and reduces the number of appointments at your medical office. A huge advantage is safety in children and adults - it does not cause systemic reactions. It is available for kids 3 and above. The dose of SLIT is based on age, weight and your allergic symptoms - it is estimated by the Doctor and adjusted individually.
Two types of SLIT treatment are available at ImmuneLine. Low Dose SLIT is homeopathic treatment. It is mostly used in children, for allergy to molds and treatment of skin allergy and migraine. Full dose SLIT is used for the allergic conjunctivitis, rhinitis and asthma. You can discuss with Doctor which treatment is right for you.
SLIT is a great cure for seasonal allergy and hay fever!
SLIT can be used for seasonal allergy very effectively. You should order it right before the season starts. Dependent on your location, spring season usually starts in April in California and ends in August. So you will need only 5 month of treatment per year. On the other hand, pet allergy is year round, so you will need treatment 12 month a year. The usual course of treatment is 3-5 years. It depends on many factors and might be different for you.
SLIT is completely natural - it consists of the commercial serums made of the allergic proteins, such as cat dander and saliva, dust mites, dogs, pollens of the trees and grasses. It is combined by your individual prescription made by the doctor. Skin test or blood test for allergens will show what needs to be added to the treatment drops. Final solution will contain your allergens and glycerin (for stability). SLIT pricing is based on the commercial extracts and number of them in your drops.
Symptoms of allergy
SLIT therapy is a long-term solution for all environmental allergy symptoms. In the U.S., only few medical practices prescribe and mix SLIT. However, in European countries, SLIT therapy has been approved to treat a wide range of environmental allergies including some food allergies for over 70 years!
About 20-30% adults suffer from allergies. Common symptoms include:
Sneezing and runny eyes
Runny nose, congestion, sinus pressure
Increased mucus production
Itchy eyes, inflammation of the eyelids, stye
Skin rash
Coughing, hoarseness, postnasal drip
Shortness of breath and wheezing
Headaches and migraine
Brain "fog" and ADHD-like symptoms
Seek medical care immediately if you are experiencing difficulty breathing and wheezing.
Causes of allergy
The symptoms are caused by hypersensitivity of the immune system to certain allergens. An allergen is a substance that causes an allergic reaction. This means your immune system is in overdrive and producing a response against things that are typically harmless. For example, dust mites and grass are common allergens.
Immune cells in your protective immunity system wrongly perceive these things as harmful. They will initiate a series of reactions causing inflammation and the release of a substance called histamine. This results in the annoying symptoms many people experience. It is also why antihistamines are often taken by patients with allergies.
Complications
Most patients react well to SLIT. The most common adverse reactions are swelling of the oral cavity (mouth, tongue, or lip), throat irritation, nausea, and abdominal pain. There have been a very small number of serious reactions such as anaphylaxis (about 1.4/100000 doses), but no deaths have been reported from this treatment.
Diagnosis
There are multiple methods to test for allergies. You Doctor will determine the best test based on the severity of your symptoms, the suspected allergy, and your location. One diagnostic method is a blood test - we use it when you order SLIT through the website and will not be able to come for skin test. It might not be reliable if you have very high or very low IgE (allergic immunoglobulin) in your blood. Tests done within a year are still useful for treatment prescription.
The most common test is the allergy skin test. In this test, different potential allergens will be applied to the skin on your back and then monitored for a reaction. This can be completed in your provider’s office. With a skin test, results are typically available within thirty minutes. In rare cases, we may advise you take a NAPT (Nasal Allergen Provocation Test). In this test, the suspected allergens are applied to each nostril.
It is important not to take an antihistamine medication before skin tests, but you can take them if you are doing blood test.
Treatment
Once the allergen(s) has been determined from one of the tests listed above, your provider will customize your SLIT medication. This will come as a tablet or as liquid drops. No matter which formulation you receive, both are dissolved under the tongue and absorbed by the body through the lining of the mouth. Similar to allergy shots, treatment occurs over a long period of time.
The minimum duration of treatment is typically 12 weeks, but 3-5 years is the most common length of time. During this duration of time, you will gradually expose your body to increased amounts of the allergen. The goal is to desensitize your immune system’s response to these allergens.
Your first dose of SLIT medication will be monitored for correct administration and an adverse reaction. We can do that in the Clinic or remotely by the video call. After this, you will be able to take it independently. It is very important to adhere to our instructions on when and how often to take SLIT. Missed doses or taking incorrect concentrations of the therapy will negatively impact your results and may cause your treatment to fail.
We consider SLIT as the best available cure for allergy. It works great, and treats the root of the allergic reactions by re-education of the immune system. It is safe and reliable natural remedy which is approved as a conventional treatment in Europe! You don't have to part with your furry friends - get SLIT drops and you can keep you pet or get a new one!
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