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How to Break-up With Your Antihistamine 101

stephaniespencer6

Are you, like ~25% of other Victoria locals dreading allergy season this year? Well, here's the good news: There are other options for combating your allergies!

You know the feeling. The red, itchy eyes, congested sinuses, the sneezing, the sniffling and the constant reaching for your go-to antihistamine when Spring rolls around. Maybe your friends have told you about exploring the idea of "allergy shots" to desensitize you to your allergen - but this involves a long-term commitment of regular doctors appointments to receive them.


While these allergy shots (immunotherapy) have been proven to be effective, there is another, at home approach to desensitizing your immune system to your inhaled allergen.


What is Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT)

Sublingual immunotherapy targets the root cause of your allergies by slowly introducing small amounts of your allergen to your system each day to decrease your immune response to that allergen. This is accomplished by placing a few drops of that allergen under your tongue each day.


How do I know exactly what I'm allergic to?

Many naturopathic doctors (including myself), offer allergy scratch testing in-office for many common allergens. This includes:

  • Cats

  • Dust mites

  • Tree pollens

  • Grasses

  • Weeds

  • Dogs

  • Mold

The scratch test takes ~30-45 minutes in-office and gives you access to instant knowledge about your current inhalant allergens.

Allergy scratch testing (AKA skin prick testing) is considered to be the "gold standard" in diagnosis of inhalant allergens.

How long will I need to be on sublingual immunotherapy?

While the majority of patients notice a significant improvement of symptoms within a few months, it is recommended to continue therapy for 3-5 years to see full, long-term benefit.


Is SLIT covered by my benefits?

Many extended benefits plans cover SLIT therapy. If you need help navigating this process, we are happy to assist!


SLIT /allergy scratch testing is not appropriate for every individual. Make an appointment today to discuss if you are a good candidate to explore this treatment.


References


1. Kumar, R., Gupta, N., Kanuga, J., & Kanuga, M. (2015). A comparative study of skin prick test versus serum-specific IgE measurement in Indian patients with bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis. Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci, 57(2), 81-5.



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Dr. Spencer, ND©

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