Sublingual Immunotherapy (allergy drops)

[Titchou]

I know the drops are available here in AL as I know someone on them. However, the long time to initial relief sort of put me off. I started my shots in November and was in good shape by spring allergy season. I was told the drops do take a couple of years to kick in. I'm finishing up the five years the last week in December so am looking forward to freedom! Sneezy, do recommend getting retested after that? I wasn't going to because I doubt I'd do the regimine again so soon. This is the 3rd time I've done the shots. Thanks!

[amph]

Having a highly allergic family (both kids experienced analpylaxis around 9 months of age--one from eggs, the other from chemical/formaldehyde sensitivity) and a husband who was extremely allergic and asthmatic as a kid, we've tried a lot of things.
Not until we started drops over a year ago did we see any significant change. My husband is normally miserable during ragweed season and most of the spring/summer, used an inhaler frequently as well as a host of other meds. One son was in the perpetual Zertec fog, the other had eczema that wouldn't respond to cremes/etc.
Within 3-4 months of beginning drops, my son with eczema experienced clear skin. My other son was much less congested/sniffly and his allergic shiners had noticeably decreased. My husband said he doesn't remember ever being able to breath normally before. His seasonal reactions were practically non-existent, minor help from Serevent is all he needs occasionally.
One thing to note--allergy drops are available throughout the US--they're just not covered by insurance. Many allergists are beginning to offer them, but until the industry as a whole gets up to speed on research (there's a lot of it from Europe, and more now in the US) many people will not know this is an option for them. It pays to ask around, do a little research, and find out more. I'm thankful we were able to find help. For some people, it takes awhile to feel the effects--not true in our case. [removed]

[mod-anon]

Please honor your membership agreement. Please read and follow the posting rules.
Do not post info on how to locate commercial websites.

[url]http://www.healthboards.com/boards/faq.php?faq=faq_hb[/url]
"Posting any kind of information for any reason on how to find websites, products, services, businesses, commercial sites, message boards, or chats is cause to be banned."

[edl]

Originally Posted by amph

Having a highly allergic family (both kids experienced analpylaxis around 9 months of age--one from eggs, the other from chemical/formaldehyde sensitivity) and a husband who was extremely allergic and asthmatic as a kid, we've tried a lot of things.
Not until we started drops over a year ago did we see any significant change. My husband is normally miserable during ragweed season and most of the spring/summer, used an inhaler frequently as well as a host of other meds. One son was in the perpetual Zertec fog, the other had eczema that wouldn't respond to cremes/etc.
Within 3-4 months of beginning drops, my son with eczema experienced clear skin. My other son was much less congested/sniffly and his allergic shiners had noticeably decreased. My husband said he doesn't remember ever being able to breath normally before. His seasonal reactions were practically non-existent, minor help from Serevent is all he needs occasionally.
One thing to note--allergy drops are available throughout the US--they're just not covered by insurance. Many allergists are beginning to offer them, but until the industry as a whole gets up to speed on research (there's a lot of it from Europe, and more now in the US) many people will not know this is an option for them. It pays to ask around, do a little research, and find out more. I'm thankful we were able to find help. For some people, it takes awhile to feel the effects--not true in our case. [removed]

Hello - I am very interested in your experience - have a daughter with allergies (dogs, cats, dust mites, certain pollens) - she is desparate for a dog and we would like to try this - in calling around Houston, there are Dr's (as in MD, board certified allergists) who give them - one thing of concern was that they "mix them up at the office" - is this the way shots are done? - if so, i guess the risk of a bad mix is the same as shots - how hard is it to get the right mix...as in if they get it wrong, how toxic/harmful can it be to the patient? - is there an organization or some body that cerifies these folks or can vet who has experience? - thanks in advance, ed

[Titchou]

They mix all of it at the doctors' offices as far as I know...all of my injections were done that way...Someone has to do it as you couldn't commercially market the serum as there are too many combinations and strengths. It can change as you go thru the shots/drops (having to back up, lesson one, strengthen another, etc). I'd be much more secure with it mixed for me that bought already done. You need to do more resesarch about how the dosages are determined, mixed, etc. I don't know about the drops (my understanding has always been they are better for food allergies than environmental) as I've always done the shots. The usual regimen though is for you to wait in the doctor's 20 minutes or so after the injection to see what, if any, reaction you might have. Also, with injections, you can take an antihistamine the mornign of the shots. Don't know about the drops.

Have you tried her on zyrtec? That seems to work well for pet allergies.