How does it work?

In sublingual immunotherapy, an extract of the substance you are allergic to is placed under your tongue three times a day, every day. You can do this for up to five years, which is also the maximum amount of time you can receive allergy shots.

According to experts, many patients find this treatment very effective. The longer you apply these drops, the more your immune system tolerates the allergen(s) without launching an allergic response.

This technique is common in Europe, where studies have shown it to be safe and effective. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved its use as a drug therapy, sublingual immunotherapy can be used as an alternative medicine.

It appears to have fewer side effects than allergy shots. Some patients initially experience stomach upset, but that symptom usually goes away over time.

If you have a strong aversion to shots or can’t tolerate them, sublingual therapy is a viable alternative. You can administer the drops wherever you are, and you don’t have to go to a clinic each week to get an allergy shot or wait 30 minutes to ensure the injection doesn’t cause an allergic reaction.