Allergy Drops or Sublingual Immunotherapy
Allergy symptoms can occur any time of the year and impact your day-to-day life. Getting the right treatment can help significantly. Quincy Medical Group’s Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) department offers sublingual immunotherapy, or allergy drops, which treat the cause, not just symptoms of allergies with the added convenience of being administered at home. Treating allergy is very important to ENT doctors as it is a common cause of sinusitis, nasal polyps, and ear infections.
Before pursuing this treatment, it’s important to check with your insurance provider about coverage. Most plans cover allergy testing but do not cover sublingual immunotherapy (allergy drops); however with the cost being comparable to allergy shots, the safety, time savings, and convenience make it an option to consider. HSA and FSA funds can be accepted for payment also.
What is the difference between allergy drops and allergy shots?
Both are forms of allergen immunotherapy, which refers to repeated exposure to small doses of something you’re allergic to (allergen) to make you less sensitive to it. Unlike injection immunotherapy, which is given as shots, sublingual immunotherapy is given as drops under the tongue.
Are allergy drops safe?
Allergy drops have been shown to be safe for both adults and children. The drops are taken in the convenience of your home.
Do allergy drops work?
Published studies have shown that allergy drops significantly reduce allergy symptoms over time. Patients can see some relief from their symptoms within 6 to 12 months of regular use. We recommend that patients keep using the drops for three to five years so that the body will build up a lasting immunity.
What is the cost? Will it be covered by insurance?
Many insurance plans do not cover sublingual immunotherapy, but some do. It’s best to check your insurance provider on coverage. Our office will bill your insurance, but we ask that the cost of the drops be paid prior to treatment. You may utilize your FSA or HSA for payment, as sublingual immunotherapy is a health covered benefit.
What type of testing do you do?
Before treatment, the first step is to confirm a patient’s allergies through allergy testing. In our ENT department, we test for inhalant allergies which includes weed or grass pollen, animal dander, molds, and others. We also have the ability to test for penicillin allergy.
Call (217) 222-6550, ext. 6900 to get allergy tested and see if you are a candidate for the sublingual allergy drops.