Allergy Drops vs Allergy Shots
What’s best for your patients?
Your patients have options if they move forward from testing to allergy treatment, which is beneficial for a number of reasons. As a provider, offering multiple treatment options will add front-end value to your allergy testing, as a patient may be more likely to begin the process if they are offered such flexibility.
Most importantly, it allows them to pick the modality of allergen immunotherapy that best fits their preferences and lifestyle, giving them the best chance at a compliant, successful treatment.
That said, which method is best for them will depend on which factors they value more. Here are some key points to keep in mind as you, the provider, share in the decision-making with your allergy patient.
How allergy drops and shots compare
| Attribute | Allergy Shots* | Allergy Drops** |
|---|---|---|
| Administration | Subcutaneous injection | Drops under the tongue |
| Frequency | Every other day and, eventually, twice weekly | Daily |
| FDA status | Made from FDA-approved allergenic extracts; patient-specific vials are compounded, not FDA-approved products | Made from the same FDA-approved extracts; compounded and prescribed off-label, not FDA-approved products |
| Storage | Refrigeration | Room temperature — No refrigeration needed |
| Office visits first year | 9 | 11 |
| Covered by insurance | Yes, by most | No |
| Symptom improvement? | 6–12 months | 3–6 months |
| Treats for | Up to 20 allergens | Up to 10 allergens |
| Common side effects | Red, itchy wheal at site of injection | Oral itching and/or swelling |
* Based on our proprietary allergy shots protocol
** Based on the Allergy Allay Drops™ protocol
Compounded medications have not been approved by the FDA. Patient-specific allergen immunotherapy — whether allergy shots or sublingual drops — is compounded by AlleReach from FDA-approved allergenic extracts under a prescription from the treating provider; sublingual drops are prescribed off-label. A small number of sublingual immunotherapy tablets are FDA-approved for specific allergens; personalized drops are not. Off-label prescribing is a long-standing, legitimate practice and does not mean unsafe or experimental. The FDA does not verify the safety, effectiveness, or quality of compounded preparations.
Ready to offer both modalities to your patients?
AlleReach compounds allergen immunotherapy for both shots and drops, ready to ship to your part of the country. Talk with our pharmacy about integrating allergy treatment into your practice.