Have you ever wished that you weren’t allergic to something in your life? Whether you have grass allergies that irritate your eyes in the spring or you have a hard time visiting your friends because you’re allergic to their cat; with SLIT Therapy, we may be able to desensitize you to your allergens

Sublingual Immunotherapy (or SLIT for short) is an alternative method of treating allergies and desensitizing a person to their allergies without using injections.

 A small dose of the allergen is given in office under the tongue. This gently introduces the allergen to the immune system.

 As long as the first dose goes well, you can continue the treatment from the comfort of your own home once per day until the treatment has been completed. 

​SLIT is a prescription medication and may be covered under your benefits.

How does it work?

Small doses of the allergen are given under the tongue, as there are only a few mast cells here. Mast cells are the cells that are reactive in allergies, so introducing allergens this way keeps things calm.

​Sublingual Immunotherapy occurs in two phases:

• Build-up Phase. This involves receiving increasing amounts of the allergens once a day for a short time ranging from a few days to a few weeks.
  
• Maintenance Phase. This begins when the effective maintenance dose has been reached, based on your allergen sensitivity and response to the Build-up Phase. During the Maintenance Phase, the strength of the allergens is higher and at an optimal concentration and effectiveness.
  

Four pumps of the prescription medicine under the tongue daily.

Safety & Side Effects?  

Most clinical trials and surveys published over the past 20 years show that SLIT is relatively safe and effective for the treatment of rhinitis and asthma caused by allergies to dust mites, grass, ragweed, cat dander, and tree pollens. Evidence is emerging that SLIT may be effective for treating the red, itchy eyes caused by pollen during hay fever season. 3-7 In addition, it might prove an effective therapy for children with mild atopic dermatitis (eczema) and is currently being studied for its potential in treating food allergies. Currently, the best option for people with food allergies is to strictly avoid that food.

Side effects that may appear in both children and adults are usually local and mild, most often occur early in treatment, and include itching in the mouth or stomach problems. These can usually be managed by dose adjustments. Very rarely, severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) have been reported using SLIT. Therefore this treatment is best prescribed by a medical practitioner experienced in the field of allergy.

How much does it cost?  

It’s about $200 for 3 months, so about $800/year. SLIT is a prescription medicine, so will be covered under most plans. Make sure you check with your plan first as it is expensive.

How long is the course of therapy?  

Which Conditions does it work for?  

Most clinical trials and surveys published over the past 20 years show that SLIT is relatively safe and effective for the treatment of rhinitis and asthma caused by allergies to dust mites, grass, ragweed, cat dander, and tree pollens. Evidence is emerging that SLIT may be effective for treating the red, itchy eyes caused by pollen during hay fever season. 3-7 In addition, it might prove an effective therapy for children with mild atopic dermatitis (eczema) and is currently being studied for its potential in treating food allergies. Currently, the best option for people with food allergies is to strictly avoid that food.

How longs does it take to work?  

3-6 months. You may notice a decrease in symptoms during the Build-up Phase, but it may take as long as 3 months on the maintenance dose to notice more improvement. The recommended duration of maintenance treatment is generally three to five years. The reason for this is because it has been shown that the improvement from Sublingual Immunotherapy will persist even when they are stopped after that duration, and can even prevent the development of new allergies and the onset of asthma.

How effective is it?  

I see improvement in about 85% of people

Who is SLIT not for? 

• If you have severe, uncontrolled asthma
• If you have chronic intestinal conditions such as Eosinophilic Esophagitis
  
• If you are taking blood pressure medications called Beta Blockers (please consult with your doctor)
  
• If you have any severe medical condition that puts you at risk towards an unstable situation (for example cardiac conditions)
  
• If you have had previous severe anaphylactic reactions to immunotherapy
  
• SLIT may be continued if you get pregnant, but should not be started during pregnancy.