Sublingual immunotherapy (1458)
Key points below
(Under-tongue therapy)
What is SLIT?
SLIT is a medicine that is given under the tongue. The medicine can reduce allergy symptoms. It does this by building up your body’s defenses.
How do SLIT tablets work?
The tablets take a few months to start helping. The tablets may decrease the signs of allergies like:
- Itchy eyes and nose
- Watery eyes
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Nose congestion or stuffiness
- A runny nose
There may still be some allergy symptoms even after the tablets start working.
Who should get SLIT?
Anyone who:
- has allergies to grass, dust mites, or ragweed.
- had skin or blood tests that show they have these allergies.
- has tried avoiding pollen or dust mites, but it didn’t help.
- has not been helped by allergy medicine.
- has too many side effects from the allergy medicine.
- cannot go to the clinic for allergy shots.
How do we start taking the tablets??
The first tablet is given in clinic for safety. You will need to stay for 30 minutes afterwards.
- Bring your:
- EPIPEN (epinephrine).
- box of SLIT tablets. Make sure the box has its label. Do not open before the clinic visit. - Staff will teach you how to:
- How and when to take the SLIT tablets.
- understand side-effects.
- know what a severe reaction looks like.
- use the EPIPEN and get help. - The next tablets are taken at home. Put one under the tongue. Do this every day at the same time.
SLIT should not be taken:
- When sick or if asthma is acting up.
- If you have problems swallowing
- If you have eosinophilic esophagitis.
- If you have mouth sores or recent dental surgery.
- If you take a beta-blocker medicine.
- If you have stopped the tablets for more than 1 week. You may need to get your next tablet in the clinic.