Key Takeaways
Allergy drops are a form of sublingual immunotherapy, or SLIT, placed under the tongue to help change the immune system’s response to specific allergens over time.
Treatment should be personalized by an allergist based on symptoms, allergy testing, medical history, relevant exposures, and treatment goals.
Allergy drops are a long-term treatment, not an immediate symptom reliever, and should be taken as directed with guidance from your allergist.
What are Allergy Drops?
Allergy drops are a form of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in which small amounts of an allergen are placed under the tongue instead of given by injection. The goal is to gradually change the immune system’s response to specific allergens and reduce allergic symptoms over time.
Some forms of SLIT include FDA-approved tablets for certain environmental allergens. At CLS Health, allergy drops are customized using FDA-regulated allergen extracts based on your symptoms, allergy testing, and clinically relevant triggers. The custom formulations themselves are not FDA-approved as sublingual immunotherapy products. Unlike medications used mainly for temporary symptom relief, allergen immunotherapy is intended to address the allergic immune response over time.
How Do Allergy Drops Work?
Allergy drops are prescribed as part of an individualized allergy treatment plan. The process typically starts with an allergy evaluation and testing to identify the allergens that may be contributing to your symptoms.
1. Allergy Evaluation
Your allergist reviews your symptoms, medical history, previous reactions, exposures, and possible allergy triggers. This helps determine whether allergy immunotherapy may be appropriate.
2. Allergy Testing
Allergy testing may be recommended to identify specific allergens that could be contributing to your symptoms. Testing is personalized based on your symptoms and medical history, not broad screening panels. Results help your allergist determine which allergens are clinically relevant and whether allergy drops, allergy shots, or another treatment option may be appropriate.
3. Personalized Treatment
If sublingual immunotherapy is appropriate, treatment is selected based on your clinically relevant allergens and individual medical needs.
4. Ongoing Immunotherapy
Patients take their prescribed therapy according to their allergist’s instructions. Follow-up visits help monitor your response and adjust care when appropriate.
Allergy drops are taken regularly over an extended period. They are not used only when symptoms occur. Most patients start feeling better in the first few months of therapy. A full treatment course lasts 3-5 years and can help keep your symptoms gone for many years after finishing the immunotherapy.
Types of Allergy Drops We Offer
Allergy drops may be considered as part of an individualized immunotherapy plan for certain environmental or food allergies. However, the evidence, treatment goals, dosing, safety considerations, and regulatory status differ depending on the allergy being treated.
Environmental Allergy Drops
Environmental allergy drops may be customized around clinically relevant allergens identified through evaluation and testing. These may be considered for patients with recurring seasonal or year-round allergy symptoms.
Potential environmental allergens may include:
- Pollen
- Grasses
- Weeds
- Dust mites
- Mold
- Pet allergens
Your allergist can determine whether environmental allergy drops may be appropriate based on your symptoms, test results, exposures, and treatment goals.
Food Allergy Drops
Food allergy drops are different from environmental allergy drops. Food-allergy sublingual immunotherapy has been studied, but its evidence, treatment goals, dosing, safety considerations, and regulatory status differ from SLIT for environmental allergies.
There are currently no FDA-approved SLIT products for food allergies. Food allergy drops should not be viewed as a cure or as permission to begin eating allergenic food without medical guidance.
Your allergist can explain whether this type of treatment may be appropriate and what precautions are needed.
Why Do Patients Consider Allergy Drops?
For appropriate patients, allergy drops may offer several potential advantages.
Patients may consider allergy drops because they:
- Do not require routine injections
- May be taken at home after appropriate initiation and instruction
- Are designed to address the allergic immune response rather than only temporary symptoms
- May be an alternative for some patients who prefer not to or cannot maintain an allergy-shot schedule
- May allow customized liquid SLIT options for clinically relevant environmental allergens when appropriate
Allergy drops are not automatically the best form of immunotherapy for every patient. The appropriate treatment depends on your allergies, medical history, exposures, treatment goals, and other individual factors.
Who May Be a Candidate for Allergy Drops?
Allergy drops may be an option for some children and adults based on their specific allergies, symptoms, medical history, and treatment needs.
Potential candidates may include people who:
- Have allergies confirmed through appropriate evaluation and testing
- Experience recurring allergy symptoms or clinically significant allergic reactions
- Have clinically relevant allergen exposures that correspond with their symptoms and testing
- Prefer a needle-free immunotherapy option when clinically appropriate
- Can consistently follow the prescribed treatment plan
- Are children or adults for whom an allergist determines SLIT is appropriate
An allergist can determine whether allergy drops are appropriate based on your specific allergens, symptoms, allergy testing, relevant exposures, medical history, other health conditions, age, treatment goals, and treatment preferences.
Allergy Drops for Children
Sublingual immunotherapy may be considered for certain children. Because allergy drops are needle-free, they may appeal to some families exploring alternatives to allergy shots. Eligibility depends on the child’s age, allergens, medical history, prescribed therapy, and ability to follow the treatment plan safely. An allergist should determine whether SLIT is appropriate for an individual child.
Allergy Drops vs. Allergy Shots
Both allergy drops and allergy shots are forms of allergen immunotherapy, but they are given differently and may be used in different situations.
The goal is not simply to choose drops instead of shots. Your allergist considers your specific allergies, medical history, relevant exposures, treatment goals, and preferences when determining which form of immunotherapy may be appropriate.
Find the Right Allergy Treatment for You
Not sure whether allergy drops, allergy shots, or another treatment option is right for you? A CLS Health allergist can review your symptoms, testing results, and health history to recommend the next steps.
How Long Do Allergy Drops Take to Work?
Sublingual immunotherapy is a long-term treatment. It is not intended to provide immediate relief the same way some allergy medications do.
Response to allergy drops can vary based on the patient, allergen, formulation, treatment consistency, and other clinical factors. Most patients notice improvement within months of consistent treatment, but the timeline is different for each person.
When sustained modification of allergic disease is the goal, treatment may continue for several years. Your allergist can explain the expected treatment duration based on your prescribed therapy, response, and individualized care plan.
Are Allergy Drops Safe? What Are the Side Effects?
Allergy drops are generally considered by an allergist based on the patient’s individual allergies, medical history, treatment goals, and risk factors.
Possible side effects may include:
- Itching or tingling in the mouth
- Temporary mouth or throat irritation
- Lip or tongue symptoms
- Gastrointestinal symptoms, depending on the therapy
Note: Severe systemic allergic reactions and anaphylaxis are rare but possible. Epinephrine recommendations and other safety precautions depend on the specific therapy and the patient’s individual risk factors. Patients should receive clear instructions about possible reactions, what to do if symptoms occur, and when to seek emergency care.
Why Choose CLS Health for Allergy Drops?
Allergy immunotherapy should be personalized to your specific allergens, symptoms, health history, and treatment goals. CLS Health allergists provide physician-led, patient-centered care throughout the treatment process.
Patients choose CLS Health for:
- Board-certified allergists and immunologists
- Personalized immunotherapy based on clinically relevant allergies
- Comprehensive allergy evaluation and testing
- Environmental and food allergy treatment options for appropriate patients
- Ongoing monitoring and follow-up
- Physician-led, patient-centered care
- Coordinated multispecialty care when additional medical expertise is needed
- Convenient locations throughout Greater Houston
As a physician-led, multispecialty medical group, CLS Health can coordinate allergy care with other specialties when appropriate.
Meet Jonathon Schening, MD
Jonathon Schening, MD, is a board-certified allergist and immunologist who provides personalized allergy evaluation and treatment for children and adults. He is also board certified in pediatrics and completed advanced fellowship training in Allergy and Clinical Immunology at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Schening uses an evidence-based approach to develop individualized treatment plans based on each patient’s allergies, symptoms, and health needs. He sees patients at CLS Health Allergy & Immunology locations in Clear Lake and Houston Galleria.
Allergy Drops in Greater Houston
CLS Health provides allergy evaluation and immunotherapy options for patients across Greater Houston, including Clear Lake, Webster, Houston Galleria, Greater Heights, North Cypress, and surrounding communities.
CLS Health Allergy & Immunology — Clear Lake
Serving patients in Webster, Clear Lake, League City, Friendswood, Nassau Bay, Seabrook, and surrounding Bay Area communities.
CLS Health Allergy & Immunology — Houston Galleria
Serving patients in Houston, the Galleria area, West University, Bellaire, River Oaks, Greenway Plaza, and surrounding communities.
CLS Health Allergy & Immunology — Greater Heights
Serving patients in Greater Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, The Heights, North Houston, and surrounding communities.
CLS Health Allergy & Immunology — North Cypress
Serving patients in Cypress, North Cypress, Towne Lake, Bridgeland, Fairfield, Jersey Village, Copperfield, and surrounding northwest Houston communities.
FAQs
Yes. Allergy drops are a form of sublingual immunotherapy, or SLIT. They are placed under the tongue to help change the immune system’s response to specific allergens over time.
Allergy drops help most patients when prescribed for clinically relevant allergens and taken consistently as directed. Results vary based on the patient, allergen, formulation, treatment plan, and adherence.
Sublingual allergy drops are placed under the tongue according to your allergist’s instructions. Your care team will explain how often to take them, what side effects to watch for, and what to do if a reaction occurs.
Some children may be candidates for sublingual immunotherapy, but eligibility depends on age, allergens, symptoms, medical history, the specific therapy, and the ability to follow the treatment plan safely.
Allergy drops are typically used as a long-term treatment. Some patients may need treatment for several years when the goal is sustained improvement in allergic sensitivity.
Coverage for customized allergy drops varies by insurance plan. Contact your insurance company to confirm your benefits and out-of-pocket costs.
Find Out if Allergy Drops Are Right for You
Allergy immunotherapy is not one-size-fits-all. A CLS Health allergist can evaluate your symptoms, allergy testing results, relevant triggers, and medical history to determine whether allergy drops, allergy shots, or another treatment approach may be appropriate for you.
Schedule an allergy consultation today to explore your treatment options.
Book with Dr. Schening
Allergy and Immunology