Got allergies or asthma? No time for allergy shots at the doctor’s office? According to Dr. Stuart Agren, MD, of Family Allergy Clinic, there is a better way with under-the-tongue allergy drops you can take at home.
Like allergy shots, drops are a form of immunotherapy—the only treatment shown to change the underlying allergy instead of just its symptoms. The drops are dispensed daily under the tongue where they absorb into the bloodstream through specialized mouth cells.
Dr. Agren began prescribing the drops at his Mesa-based clinic when he found patients were struggling to be consistent with allergy shots. “It was difficult for patients to make time to come to the office twice a week for shots,” he said.
Because allergy drops do not carry the same risk for anaphylactic reaction that shots do, they can be taken at home instead of under direct medical supervision. They also have been shown to be safe for young children as opposed to shots, which aren’t generally recommended for kids below age 8.
“While many patients suffer through allergy season with an arsenal of pills, nasal sprays and inhalers, allergy drops are often a wiser choice,” Dr. Agren said. “Medications have side effects, and they may only be partially effective,” he added. “But most of all, they don’t treat the root of the problem. They’re a band aid fix.”
In contrast, allergy drops desensitize the body to allergens in the environment, so it will stop having allergic reactions in the first place.
The drops are made up of natural extracts. Therefore, they are easier on the body than synthetic medications. And unlike allergy shots, drops have been shown to safely reduce food allergies, as well as pollen allergies. Dr. Agren can treat for nearly 60 food allergens, including eggs, milk and wheat.
Dr. Agren has safely treated more than 15,000 patients using allergy drops. “Allergies can wreak havoc on health, causing hay fever, asthma, eczema, hives, chronic ear infections, sinusitis, headache and fatigue,” he said.
According to the doctor, patients may be candidates for allergy drops if:
Their allergies last more than a few months each year.
Their symptoms are severe enough to significantly diminish quality of life.
Dr. Agren believes drops are the wave of the future for allergy treatment. “In recent years, I have seen the medical dialogue shift toward sublingual drops,” he said. “Allergies are getting worse, and lives are getting busier. People want a simple, effective solution.”
For more information, or an appointment with Dr. Stuart Agren, MD, call (480) 827-9945. You also can visit the website at www.FamilyAllergyClinic.com. The Family Allergy Clinic is located in Mesa at 3048 E. Baseline Road, Building 10, Suite 122.