Consulting an ENT allergist is a wise choice. You want a physician that has a broad background of knowledge to treat your problems. A medical evaluation and onsite allergy testing are the first steps to finding out what can help you. Our office offers allergy shots and sublingual drops as a treatment option.
Oral Drops | Injections |
|---|---|
| Taken daily for 3-5 years | Taken weekly for three years then every 2,3 or 4 weeks for 3-5 years (approximately) |
| Drops taken at home. Only the first dose of each new build-up bottle must be taken at the office (every 21 days for 4 build-up bottles). | Injections must be taken at Physician's office. |
| No time away from work or school except during build-up phase. A 20 minutes wait is required after taking drops (once every 21 days). | Time to get injections plus a 15 minute wait after receiving injections (only during initial 5 injections). |
| No needles or apprehension. Very small chance of mild reactions. | Small needles used for injections. Small chance of mild reactions. |
| Maintenance dose achieved in 84 days. May have fewer allergy-related symptoms in 2-3 months. | Maintenance dose achieved in 1-2 years. May have fewer allergy-related symptoms in 6-8 months. |
| Not covered by insurance; requires payment by credit card or debit card . May be able to use flexible spending account. Discuss current costs with Allergy Department. | Partially or completely covered by most insurance after deductible is met, if applicable. Discuss current costs with Allergy Department. |
| Extracts FDA approved but delivery method not approved. Insurance will not cover extracts because of delivery method. | Extracts and delivery method approved by FDA. |
| Patient responsible for correct dose and staying on daily schedule. | Patient responsible for staying on schedule, but nurse responsible for correct dose. |
| Patient required to have liquid Benadryl & EpiPen on hand when drops are taken. | Patient required to have liquid Benadryl & EpiPen on hand for home injections. |