Food Sublingual Immunotherapy

Food allergies don’t just cause unpleasant problems like stomach cramps and nausea; they can also lead to potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis. If you suspect a food allergy, talk to Nana Mireku, MD, FACAAI, FAAAAI, of Texas AllergyMD in McKinney, Texas, about sublingual immunotherapy. Dr. Mireku specializes in innovative treatments like food sublingual immunotherapy that help patients build up a tolerance to their allergens. To find out how you could benefit from this treatment, call Texas AllergyMD today. You can also book a telehealth or in-person appointment online.

What is food sublingual immunotherapy?

Food sublingual immunotherapy is a treatment that offers long-term hope to people with food allergies.

It involves placing drops containing traces of allergens (the substances that trigger your allergies) under your tongue daily. This continual use of daily sublingual drops gradually reduces your allergy symptoms. It could make them far more manageable in time.

Food sublingual immunotherapy is a reasonably new treatment. Immunotherapy has been available for seasonal allergies for many years, but developing a suitable program for people with food allergies has taken time. Dr. Mireku is one of the few doctors in the country offering food sublingual immunotherapy.

Why would I need food sublingual immunotherapy?

You might benefit from food sublingual immunotherapy if a food allergy is interfering with your daily life or putting you at risk. Food allergies develop because of an overreaction by your immune system that makes it respond as though certain foods were a threat. Common food allergies include:

• Peanuts
• Tree nuts
• Wheat
• Dairy
• Strawberries
• Soy
• Shellfish
• Fish
• Eggs

Eating these foods can cause problems like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramps, a swollen tongue, difficulty swallowing, and trouble breathing. A severe allergic reaction could cause anaphylaxis, where you might go into shock and lose consciousness.

If you’re living with a food allergy and want to reduce your chances of experiencing these problems, food sublingual immunotherapy could offer a solution.

How does food sublingual immunotherapy work?

Food sublingual immunotherapy is a simple, straightforward treatment. Dr. Mireku gives you drops that you put under your tongue every day. The drops contain small amounts of the allergens that affect you, which the cells under your tongue absorb.

Daily repetition slowly accustoms your immune system to the allergen, stopping it from overreacting. It does take a long time for food sublingual immunotherapy to work, often several years. However, it can be an effective way of managing food allergies over the long term.

Dr. Mireku also offers oral immunotherapy for food allergies, where you consume tiny amounts of allergens every day rather than having drops.

To find out if you could benefit from food sublingual immunotherapy, call Texas AllergyMD today and schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.