Open LaboratoriesAt-Home Allergy Care
Your Questions
Difference Between Allergy Drops & Shots
Common points of allergy drops include:
- Administered at home after an initial visit.
- Administered every three to seven days.
- Generally used for allergic rhinitis only.
- More acceptable to children.
- Not covered by health insurance.
- Less costly despite lack of insurance coverage.
Common points of allergy shots include:
- Administered at a doctor’s office.
- Administered once or twice a month.
- Used to treat many types of allergy.
- May be scary for some children.
- May be covered by health insurance.
- Costlier due to regular doctor visits.
The Medicine
Sublingual immunotherapy or as we like to call it, Ambrosia are allergy drops that work just like allergy shots by helping your body build tolerance to the antigens or substance(s) that cause your allergies over time. Unlike allergy shots, the antigen is placed under your tongue in a liquid form customized to each of our patients. See how our allergy drops work.
Each prescription is a custom solution for each patient according to the type and severity of his or her allergy. Drop prescriptions contain custom amounts of the allergen the patient is found to be allergic to upon testing. Antigens are put into a glycerin solution for stability. There are no other preservatives added in the prescription formulation.
An antigen is an allergy-causing substance such as pollen, mold, pet danders, and more.
One of the benefits of Ambrosia is that it can treat multiple allergies at once, including those caused by:
- Dust Mites.
- Mold.
- Animals.
- Foods.
- Seasonal pollens such as grass, trees, ragweed, and mountain cedar.
Who should take Ambrosia?
- Allergy drops have been around for decades and have been commonly prescribed in Europe. Numerous studies have validated their safety and efficacy. While the extracts used are FDA approved, this method of sublingual administration is not.
- Some data on its efficiency and safety. Allergy drops are less effective than traditional allergy shots, however more studies in the US are needed.
- But don’t just believe us. Click on the links below for a list of studies and key opinion leaders on the subject.
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/is-under-the-tongue-allergy-therapy-safe-and-effective.
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/hate_allergy_shots_oral_allergy_drops_are_a_pretty_good_option_for_some_allergy_and_allergic_asthma_sufferers_study_review_shows
- https://www.healthline.com/health/allergy-drops#1
Side Effects Of To Allergy Drops
Common side effects of allergy drops include:
- Throat irritation.
- Itching or
- mild swelling in the mouth.
- Headache.
- Coughing.
- Tiredness.
- Mucus dripping down your throat.
- Sneezing.
The Treatment
In addition to being a viable option for everyone from young children to working adults, there are more advantages:
- Time and Money: Compared to shots and many medications, allergy drops cost less over time. By skipping the weekly doctor’s visits, you spend a lot less time away from school and the office.
- Convenience: You can take allergy drops at home or wherever you are: at school, on the road, or by the pool, making it much easier to stay with your treatment.
- Live Free:Live free. The benefit of taking drops consistently? Living free. Be able to enjoy life and the activities that allergies held you back from.
Yes, you can convert from allergy shots, over the counter, and other prescriptions to our allergy drop treatment. Our independent physicians will be able to go over your medical profile in detail to make the transition to our allergy drops as smooth and safe as possible.
- Insurance companies may or may not cover the cost of diagnostic testing. Because our Ambrosia allergy drops are an off-label use of FDA-approved antigens, they are not typically covered by insurance. Check with your carrier first.
- Even without insurance coverage, most patients find treatment affordable and comparable to other medication or visit co-pays. Most patients agree that the temporary investment in allergy drops is well worth the lasting results and improvement in their quality of life.
- Allergy drops do qualify for Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flex Spending reimbursement.
Allergy drops are widely accepted as an effective treatment throughout the world, especially in Europe. Over the last 10 years, it has become more widely adopted in the United States, but has slowed due to the cash benefits doctors receive continuing to prescribe allergy shots. OPEN Labs is proud to make it more accessible to all Americans.
- Most patients take allergy drops daily for 3-5 years, but this varies depending on your customized treatment plan.
- Treatments are adjusted over time based on your included check-ins with our independent physicians.
- A benefit of immunotherapy (shots and drops), is that it can treat the root cause of your allergies, not just the symptoms. After completing your treatment in whole, and tolerance is built, it can be a long-term cure for many of our patients.
- Others stay on the treatment beyond the recommended 3-5 years, to ensure that they continue living freely.
Other Questions? Feel free to reach out to us at hello@openlaboratories.co and we will try our best to get back to you as soon as possible.