Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a method of allergy treatment that involves introducing small amounts of allergen to your body and then gradually building up doses over a period of time until you develop an immunity.
Individuals with allergy symptoms that do not respond to medical treatment are prime candidates for immunotherapy. Once the allergen trigger has been identified, a tablet of that substance is prepared. Users place the tablet under their tongue and let it dissolve. This is usually done on a daily basis and results take anywhere from three to five years.
We offer four different brands of sublingual immunotherapy.
ODACTRA
ODACTRA is the only once-daily under-the-tongue tablet for your house dust mite allergy. The tablet is taken at home, year-round to help reduce nose and eye symptoms, such as:
- Stuffy nose
- Runny nose
- Itchy nose
- Sneezing
- Itchy and watery eyes
Your first dose of ODACTRA will be given to you in your allergist’s office where you will be observed for at least 30 minutes. This is to make sure you don’t have a serious allergic reaction. If you tolerate your first dose, you can take the rest of your doses at home.
In a clinical trial of patients with allergic rhinitis caused by house dust mites in a controlled environment, ODACTRA produced a 20.4 percent reduction in allergy symptoms at 8 weeks of treatment and a 48.6 percent reduction in allergy symptoms at 24 weeks of treatment.
ODACTRA tablets work gradually, so you may not see results right away. Your allergist will tell you how long to take ODACTRA based on your response to therapy.
GRASTEK
GRASTEK is a sublingual immunotherapy product for grass allergies. The tablet is taken for 12 weeks before the grass pollen season and throughout the pollen season; it may also be taken daily for three years to provide a sustained effect for a fourth year in which you do not have to take GRASTEK.
The first dose of GRASTEK must be taken in your allergist’s office. After taking the first dose, you will be observed for at least 30 minutes for symptoms of a serious allergic reaction. If the first dose is well tolerated, you can continue to take your GRASTEK once a day at home. Children should always take GRASTEK under the supervision of an adult.
In two clinical studies, GRASTEK provided significant relief of grass allergy symptoms throughout an entire grass pollen season and reduced the need for over-the-counter and prescription allergy medications throughout the same grass pollen season. Symptoms of a grass pollen allergy included:
- Stuffy nose
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Itchy nose
In another study, GRASTEK provided significant relief of grass allergy symptoms and reduced the need for symptom-relieving medications in three years in which patients received GRASTEK and one year after stopping GRASTEK. GRASTEK was proven to provide significant relief of eye and nose symptoms during allergy season.
RAGWITEK
RAGWITEK is a sublingual immunotherapy medication used to treat ragweed pollen allergies that can cause sneezing, runny or itchy nose, stuffy or congested nose, or itchy and watery eyes. RAGWITEK is taken for 12 weeks before the ragweed pollen allergy season and throughout ragweed allergy season.
The first dose of RAGWITEK must be taken in your allergists office. After taking the first dose, you will be observed for at least 30 minutes for symptoms of a serious allergic reaction. If the first dose is well tolerated, you can continue to take your RAGWITEK once a day at home.
RAGWITEK is made from small amounts of natural short ragweed pollen and may help you gradually build tolerance so you become less sensitive to ragweed pollen. In two clinical studies, RAGWITEK provided significant relief of ragweed allergy symptoms throughout an entire ragweed pollen season, including when ragweed pollen counts were the highest. It also reduced the need for over-the-counter and prescription allergy medications throughout the same pollen season.
ORALAIR
ORALAIR is an oral immunotherapy tablet that gives you relief from grass allergies. You should begin daily treatment with ORALAIR four months before grass allergy season; continue to take treatment once a day throughout grass allergy season.
ORALAIR is effective in relieving grass allergy symptoms for up to three years after you start treatment. ORALAIR can help you reduce your grass allergy symptoms such as:
- Runny or itchy nose
- Sneezing
- Itchy and watery eyes
- Nasal congestion
Your first dose of ORALAIR must be taken at the office. You will be observed for at least 30 so your allergist can watch for possible side effects, including serious allergic reactions. If the first dose is well tolerated, you can continue to take your ORALAIR once a day at home.
Call Hunterdon Otolaryngology & Allergy Associates at (908) 788-9131 for more information or to schedule an appointment.