What Allergy Treatments Are Available Other Than Shots?

Updated
Updated

How do allergy shots work?

Allergy shots are a type of immunotherapy. A small amount of the patient’s allergen is introduced to the immune system through injection. With repeated visits and gradually increasing doses of the substance, the body learns to ignore or tolerate the allergen instead of responding with an allergic reaction.

When you suffer from allergies, it can have a huge impact on your life. Allergies stop you from going outside. They interfere with playing sports and attending family events. Allergies can even make cuddling your cat or dog a hard-to-enjoy event.

Until recently, the only long-term solution for allergy symptoms was allergy shots. But now other alternatives are available, and they’re just as safe and effective for long-term allergy relief.

What Are Allergy Shots?

Allergy shots are an injectable form of immunotherapy. Immunotherapy exposes your immune system to trace amounts of the allergen that causes your allergy symptoms. Over time, your body builds up a tolerance to the substance and stops reacting when it’s present in your environment.

Allergy shots are given in the arm and must be administered in an allergist’s office. After each shot, you must stay at the office for 20-30 minutes to ensure a severe reaction called anaphylaxis does not occur.

In most cases, shots are given once or twice a week at the beginning of allergy shot treatment. Over time, the space between shots lengthens, until you’re only getting an injection once a month. After three to five years, immunotherapy has successfully desensitized your immune response so that you no longer experience allergy symptoms.

What Are the Alternatives?

Although allergy shots are effective, they do come with serious drawbacks. Allergy shot treatment requires years worth of injections and a lot of time spent in waiting rooms. Luckily, there are alternatives to allergy shots.

What Is Sublingual Immunotherapy?

Sublingual immunotherapy is based on the same philosophy as allergy shots, but instead of the medication being injected into the body, it’s absorbed through the tissues inside the mouth. Sublingual immunotherapy comes in two variations, allergy drops, and allergy tablets.

What Are Sublingual Allergy Drops?

Allergy drops are taken under the tongue daily. Because they’re so safe, they can be administered from the comfort of your home. At Wyndly, we can treat more than 40 of the most common environmental allergies, from ragweed to cat allergies, through allergy drops. Get your personalized treatment plan now to get started with allergy drops!

What Are Sublingual Allergy Tablets?

Allergy tablets also dissolve under the tongue, but they have limitations on what allergens they can treat. Currently, they’re only available to treat ragweed, northern pasture grasses, and dust mites. Unlike allergy drops that can treat multiple allergies at once, allergy tablets can only treat one allergy at a time.

How Long Does Sublingual Immunotherapy Take for Results?

Sublingual immunotherapy, both allergy drops and allergy tablets, can be effective as quickly as four weeks. At Wyndly, most patients see significant improvement in four weeks and forget about their allergies after four months! It is important to stay on the treatment for up to five years to lock in immunotolerance. Otherwise, your immune system can become allergic again.

Is Immunotherapy Effective?

Immunotherapy is highly effective. Although it does not offer a short fix for your allergy symptoms, it is the only clinically-proven allergy treatment to offer long-term relief. Multiple research studies have shown that allergy shots, allergy drops, and allergy tablets are all equally effective at treating allergies long term.

How to Get Tested

If you’re ready to find allergy relief that lasts, we’re here to help. At Wyndly, we offer an easy-to-take at-home test. Simply order your test and we’ll send it to you in the mail. Unlike traditional allergy tests at the doctor’s office, which require painful needle sticks and itchy hives, our at-home allergy test requires only one needle stick.

After you complete the test, return it to us in the included prepaid package. Once we analyze the results, our allergy doctors contact you to review your unique allergy profile and personalized treatment plan.

Allergy Relief At-Home

Are you looking for at-home allergy relief? At Wyndly, we have you covered! With our programs, you can complete every step of your allergy treatment from the ease and comfort of your home. Start by scheduling a telehealth consultation with one of our specialists, which comes with a free at-home allergy test. After a thorough discussion about your allergy profile, your doctor will make you a personalized treatment plan.

Based on your needs, your allergy specialist will create a personalized treatment plan for you. Your doctor will take the time to answer any questions you have and will break down the different recommendations they have for getting you life-long allergy relief. Once treatment starts, we deliver your allergy drops to your house, eliminating any need to go to the doctor’s office or pharmacy.

If you ever have any problems, difficulties, or questions, our team is available 24/7 via telephone, text, video chat, or email. We’re here to ensure you have the best experience possible and the support you need to live allergy-free.

Learn Your Allergy Profile With Wyndly

Get ready to live your life free from allergies! At Wyndly, our team of allergy doctors is dedicated to helping you find long-lasting relief from your allergies.

Get a personalized treatment plan today to start beating your allergies for life. There’s no reason to wait!

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