“I have struggled with allergies and sinus problems since my first surgery in 2012. I found Dr. Hu last year while looking for a new doctor who accepted my insurance. She is awesome!!! She always takes her time, I never feel rushed, and she’s always extremely gentle. I would recommend her to anyone struggling with sinus issues!”
S.G.
“I recently visited Dr. Yoon for an issue I've been dealing with for a couple of months now and I must say I am very happy with the treatment I am currently receiving. I felt very comfortable immediately with Kimberly understanding my fears and anxiety while I was expressing my concerns. Dr. Yoon is honest, knowledgeable, patient and very thorough. I had many questions and every question was answered in detail. I never felt rushed like I do at many other doctor offices. Dr. Yoon truly cares and is wonderful at explaining different treatment plans and options. I walked out of her office feeling grateful I found her. I highly recommend family, friends and anyone in need of a fantastic ENT to visit Dr. Yoon.”
T. Garza
Allergy Treatment
Allergy Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy behaves much like a vaccine to help your body adjust to exposure of allergens. The purpose of treatment is to decrease your body’s sensitivity to allergy-causing substances so that exposure to offending allergens results in fewer and less severe symptoms. Immunotherapy is not a cure, and it is not a substitute for avoidance of allergens or the use of allergy medications. Immunotherapy is a largely a supplement to these treatment measures. It is often recommended if medications fail to provide relief from allergy symptoms for a significant enough amount of time. Currently immunotherapy is administered either by injection, oral drops or tablets.
Sublingual immunotherapy offers an alternative method for treating allergies without the need for injections, administered under the tongue.
At Clear Lake Medical Center ENT, we offer sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). Medicated drops are customized based on the patient’s allergy profile on initial testing. Drops are provided for two months and self-administered underneath the tongue daily. No injections and no weekly or bi-weekly doctor visits are needed for treatment.
Research has also shown that severe reactions are 3 times less likely to occur with sublingual immunotherapy versus allergy injections.
SLIT provides our patients the convenience of improved allergy control in the comfort of their own home and without the disruptions to work, school, and other daily activities, as is often the case with the more traditional form of injections with subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT). Over time, the graduated physician-dosed antigens build the body’s tolerance to certain allergens.
Consulting with an ENT to test for and diagnose your allergies can provide the relief you're looking for. For more information, give us a call at (281) 332-4575.
Allergy drops have been proven safe and effective for over 30 years. They are endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), and extensive research has been done to show the safety and efficacy of this method.
Research has also shown that severe reactions are 3 times less likely to occur with sublingual immunotherapy versus allergy injections. Additionally, there have been no record of life-threatening anaphylactic reactions in over 30 years and 200 million doses of testing with sublingual immunotherapy.
It should be noted that improvement in symptoms will not be immediate. It usually requires 3 to 6 months before any relief of allergy symptoms is typically noted, at which time 80-90% of patients will note significant improvement of their symptoms.
Advantages include ease of use with no needles or injections, decreased risk of anaphylaxis, convenience of self-administration at home, improved patient compliance, portability during travel, fewer doctor office visits and possible savings due to elimination of these visits. Studies have also shown that people are more compliant with allergy drops compared to allergy injections.
Unfortunately, no. While the safety and efficacy of allergy drops for immunotherapy has been proven in Europe, the FDA has yet to approve it in the United States. Thus, the option for sublingual immunotherapy has not been approved for coverage by health insurance. The initial vial will cost $150 and each additional vial for maintenance therapy will cost $125. Each maintenance vial is expected to last approximately 2 months.
Two to three drops are placed under the tongue daily.
For the majority of patients, there is very little taste at all, but for some patients, there is reported a slight sweetness.
Similar to allergy injections, completion of sublingual immunotherapy takes approximately 3 to 5 years.
Get Allergy Relief
Are you experiencing nasal congestion, postnasal drip, runny nose, facial pain or pressure, or headaches?
Our ear, nose & throat (ENT) providers will work closely with you to find an effective treatment plan to provide allergy relief as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you. When you do make an appointment, you will need to complete our allergy testing and treatment instructions and allergy history paperwork.
For more information, give us a call at (281) 332-4575.
Consultation
Struggling with persistent allergy symptoms like itchy eyes, congestion, or fatigue and home remedies are not working? Schedule a consult to explore treatment options and get relief today. Call (281) 332-4575.
Allergy Testing
We test all ages, adults and children from age 5, based on tolerance. If medications don’t control your allergy symptoms well, your ENT & allergy provider might suggest testing to pinpoint your triggers and sensitivities.
Treatment
Take control of your allergies and alleviate symptoms. Based on sensitivity shown by redness, swelling, and itching, a second titration study is performed to determine dosing for immunotherapy treatment.