Sublingual immunotherapy, also called allergy drops, works similar to allergy shots by gradually helping your body build tolerance to the substance(s) causing your allergies. The difference is that the antigen is placed under your tongue in a liquid drop form instead of an injection.

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The area under the tongue has the highest concentration of antigen/allergen presenting cells found anywhere in the body. This cell, called the dendritic cell, is the messenger that delivers antigens to the cells that enable allergic tolerance. By consistently delivering allergy drops to this cell daily, the body learns to tolerate things that cause allergic reactions.

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We recommend patients take an allergy drop dose three times each day for 3-5 years. Treatment length may vary based on allergy severity and type, and how well people follow treatment guidelines. Many people feel better within a few months, but continuing treatment through all phases is necessary to help you stay symptom-free after your allergy drop treatment is complete.

Phase 1: Initial Oral Tolerance (0-3 months)

During this phase, your body adjusts to treatment and symptoms can improve. Those with minor oral itching will see it decrease as tolerance begins.

 

Phase 2: Symptom Relief (3 months-2 years)

As symptoms decrease, your body is taking steps toward changing your allergen tolerance. You might feel tempted to stop your treatment because you feel better, but don’t. By continuing treatment, your body can learn long-term tolerance.

 

Phase 3: Long-term Tolerance (2-5 years*)

As symptoms continue to improve, your body increases its allergy tolerance. This long-term learning is needed for you to stay symptom-free long after treatment is done.

 

*Depending upon the severity of your allergies, your provider will monitor, adjust, and retest to determine the final length of treatment which varies between patients.

The La Crosse Method™ Protocol has proven safe and effective for a wide variety of allergies and associated conditions.

• Allergic Rhinitis

• Asthma

• Dust Mite

• Candida

• Vaginitis (chronic)

• Eosinophilic Esophagitis

• Environmental Allergies

• Headaches

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• Mold Allergy

• Sinusitis

• Pet & animal allergies

• Atopic dermatitis/eczema

Allergy drops have been used around the world for more than 100 years with many studies showing that they are safe and effective. Allergy drops were used by physicians before they used allergy shots. There has never been a life-threatening reaction reported from La Crosse Method™ Protocol sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) treatment. The La Crosse Method has been in clinical use since 1970.

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The La Crosse Method is unique from other allergy treatment protocols. Dosing for each patient is tied directly to allergy testing results, history and exam. Dose adjustments are based on allergy retesting and the patient’s ability to tolerate a higher dose without side effects such as stomach ache or oral itching. With this carefully monitored approach, practitioners using the La Crosse Method have been able to successfully treat the most brittle allergy patients including those with food allergy, asthma, and others not considered candidates for allergy shots or other treatments.

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Verified by a World Allergy Organization report that, “The safety of SLIT is superior to that of subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT), and no fatality has been reported in 23 years of trials and clinical use. The most frequently reported events were irritation of the throat and oral itching. According to the recent data, the number of side effects seems to be dose-dependent, as happens with SCIT.”†

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†Source: Passsalacqua, G., Compalati, E., Canonica, G.W. Sublingual Immunotherapy: Clinical Indications in the WAO-SLIT Position Paper. World Allergy Organization Journal. 2010;3:216-219.