Immunotherapy
Allergy Shots
Are you struggling with allergic reactions to grass or dust? Mountain West ENT in Bountiful and Layton serves patients throughout Davis County with immunotherapy to aid in allergy prevention against dust mites, mold, pet dander, grass, pollen, and bee venom. The most common form of immunotherapy is allergy shots.
How Do Allergy Shots Work?
Allergy shots are not only the most common form of immunotherapy, but also the most effective. An allergy shot, also known as subcutaneous immunotherapy, contains a small amount of the allergen responsible for your symptoms, such as dog dander or mold. With an increase in dosage over time, our Davis County patients slowly build immunity to the substance. Allergy shots are the only treatment option that actually change the immune system, allowing allergy sufferers to resist the development of new allergies and asthma. While allergy shots are not a cure, they can reduce the severity of symptoms.
An allergy shot regimen is a time commitment that will require multiple visits per month during the build-up phase. The frequency of visits will gradually decrease as you enter the maintenance phase. During the course of your Bountiful or Layton immunotherapy treatment, you should notice a dramatic decrease in symptoms, and in some cases symptoms may go away completely.
ALLERGY DROPS ( SUBLINGUAL IMMUNOTHERAPY)
About Sublingual Immunotherapy at Mountain West ENT
Sublingual therapy is a type of immunotherapy that involves administering drops of antigens underneath the tongue. The antigen is rapidly absorbed by the veins under the tongue and enters the blood stream as rapidly as by injection.
In the past, most immunotherapy was provided through allergy shots. Today, sublingual immunotherapy (or allergy drops) is also offered as a safe, convenient way to treat the cause of your allergies and help you build long-term tolerance to the allergens that once made you miserable.
Allergy Drops for Inhalants (dusts, molds, and pollens) or Food Allergies
Sublingual therapy requires a small dose of extract given under the tongue up to four times per day. Some patients find relief with just one or two drops per day making the extract last longer depending upon the frequency of dosage.
Administering and Storing Allergy Drops
Allergy drops are administered behind the teeth and under the tongue, if possible. Patients should avoid swallowing for about a minute.
When starting treatment, some patients may require injection therapy in addition to allergy drops. It’s important that treatment be continued over an extended period of time even if it’s at a low dosage. Be sure to have your bottles refilled when they become low to avoid interruption of your treatment. Keeping the bottle refrigerated will preserve the potency.
Is Immunotherapy Right for Me?
If the following statements apply to you, you may want to learn more about immunotherapy options at our Bountiful or Layton ENT offices.
· Your allergy season is lengthy and you experience severe symptoms
· Over-the-counter medications fail to prevent or control allergy symptoms
· You would prefer to avoid long-term medication use
· You are looking for a cost-effective way to manage allergy symptoms
Do you suffer from chronic sneezing, itchy eyes, or allergy-induced asthma? Would you like more information about managing your allergy symptoms? Reach out to Mountain West ENT to schedule an appointment for immunotherapy at our Bountiful or Layton office.
Our two Davis County allergy clinics have extended hours to better serve our patients. If you live with severe or persistent allergies, schedule a visit with our team to learn more about sublingual therapy.