Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has emerged as one of the most promising allergy medicines. SLIT is a form of allergy immunotherapy that involves placing allergen extracts under the tongue. This is similar to SCIT in that both aim at desensitizing the immune system against a given allergen, pollen, house dust mites, or epithelia/dander from pets, to progressively reduce the allergic response. SLIT is given at home as a daily medication, much more convenient than allergy shots that require one to three visits to a health care provider each week. Companies such as Curex provide SLIT through allergy drops that can be purchased by people with indoor and/or outdoor allergies.
How Does SLIT Work?
SLIT works by exposing the immune system to small, controlled amounts of allergens. The allergens themselves are placed under the tongue and are absorbed into the bloodstream across the sublingual mucosa, where they interact with immune cells. This interaction retrains the immune system in such a way as to become less reactive to the allergens, thereby bringing down the severity of allergic reactions.
Benefits of SLIT
SLIT has the great advantage of convenience. Whereas allergy shots entail the necessity for patients to visit healthcare providers every now and then, SLIT can be easily administered in the convenience of one’s home, saving time and reducing the inconvenience of regular visits to a SLIT is also highly efficient in reduction of allergy symptoms and improving the quality of life among the majority of patients through various studies it has undertaken. Many studies have shown that SLIT reduced symptoms of AR and improved the quality of life among allergic rhinitis patients, which includes reducing symptoms of asthma and the need for allergy medications. SLIT is generally safe, with patients exhibiting a low incidence of severe systemic adverse events. The most common side effects related to SLIT are usually mild in nature and refer to oral symptoms, such as pruritus or edema in the mouth or throat. These effects are usually transient and resolve spontaneously. SLIT is a very friendly procedure for children and provides an easy, safe, and effective alternative to shots.
Comparison to Other Allergy Treatments
SLIT, in comparison with other methods for treating allergies, such as antihistamines or decongestants, has a number of advantages. Unlike drugs, which have temporary effects on allergy symptoms, SLIT has long-term beneficial effects because it targets the causes of allergies.
Sublingual immunotherapy has been proven to reduce the severity of allergy symptoms and improve the quality of life of most patients, just like allergy shots. Sublingual immunotherapy is a safe, effective, and convenient treatment option for people with allergies. SLIT reduces the severity of an allergic reaction and, at the same time, greatly improves the quality of life for numerous patients by desensitizing the immune system to specific allergens. With these benefits and proven efficacy, SLIT is a very valuable treatment for people who want long-lasting solutions against allergies.