How is immunotherapy the most effective form of allergy relief?

Allergy shots, also known as subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT), are the most commonly used and most effective form of allergy immunotherapy. This is the only treatment available that actually changes the immune system, making it possible to prevent the development of new allergies and asthma.

Allergy tablets are a form of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) that offer a way to treat certain allergies without shots. Like shots, tablets reduce symptoms by helping the body build resistance to the effects of an allergen. Unlike shots, tablets only treat one type of allergen and do not prevent the development of new allergies and asthma. FDA-approved SLIT tablets are available to treat allergies to ragweed and grass pollen.

Allergy drops are another form of SLIT and work the same way as tablets. Drops are widely accepted and used in many countries around the world, but they have not been FDA approved in the U.S. and their usage is off-label.