Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT): A Needle-Free Way to Treat Allergies

Being allergic to airborne substances, such as pollen and dust mites, can cause allergic reactions in your eyes (allergic conjunctivitis), nose (allergic rhinitis), and lungs (allergic asthma). 

While many treatments can manage these allergic reactions as they happen, including decongestants, nasal sprays, and inhalers, they can only mask the symptoms since they can’t address the underlying cause.  

Our team, led by Chad W. Mayer, DO, FAAAAI, FAAP, at Allergy and Asthma Institute of Southeast Michigan in Farmington Hills, Michigan, offers what we believe is a better and more permanent solution to these allergies — sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). 

In this month’s blog, we discuss what you need to know about this innovative and incredibly effective allergy treatment. 

What is SLIT?

When you’re allergic to something, it means that your immune system has labeled something harmful when it actually poses no threat to you. The substance you’re allergic to is known as an allergen.

Allergy immunotherapy is a treatment that seeks to reduce the severity of your allergic reactions by repeatedly exposing your immune system to allergens in order to desensitize it. 

Allergy immunotherapy was once given primarily through shots, known as subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT), where allergens were injected under the skin. Today, a newer option called sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) allows allergens to be delivered orally, placed under the tongue instead of through injections.

SLIT delivery methods include liquid drops and tablets, which both dissolve under your tongue.

How does SLIT work?

After the tablets or liquid drops have been placed under your tongue, they dissolve, and the allergen enters your bloodstream. Once it’s in your bloodstream, cells from your immune system, called T-cells, recognize it. 

Over time, the allergen dosage taken with SLIT increases, and your T-cells start to calm your immune system rather than tell it to trigger an allergic reaction. As your immune system becomes more accustomed to the allergen, the severity of your symptoms slowly decreases. 

The first round of drops or tablets has to be taken under the supervision of our Allergy and Asthma Institute of Southeast Michigan team. We monitor you for severe reactions and make any necessary adjustments.

You take the remaining doses at home. For the first 10 weeks, the amount of allergen in the drops or tablet slowly increases until you reach full strength. You then enter the maintenance stage, where you take the same dosage every single day.

Is SLIT right for you?

If you're allergic to ragweed, certain types of grass pollen, dust mites, or insect venom, and your symptoms don’t respond well to traditional allergy medications, SLIT could be right for you. While SLIT can’t address all types of allergies, many airborne allergens can be treated with immunotherapy. 

To schedule a consultation to learn if SLIT could be the way to possibly eliminate your need for allergy symptom management through medication, simply call our office or use our online booking feature today.