Many people unnecessarily suffer from allergies. They rely onantihistamines, steroids, and other heavy duty prescription medicationsto cover up the symptoms. Allergies can take a toll on one’s immunesystem, energy levels, general well-being, and even mood. Allergies maypredispose one to chronic sinusitis, daily headaches, inability toconcentrate, insomnia, eye pressure, etc. Allergy sufferers are oftentold to avoid the allergen or undergo weekly intramuscular injections to“desensitize” them. Neither of those options is feasible for mostpeople. Avoidance is often impossible and very few allergy suffererswant to visit the allergist for an injection once a week for severalyears.



Many allergy sufferers who do not want to rely on weeklyantigen injections, and who are not satisfied with medicating themselvesto cover up the symptoms of allergies, have chosen to undergosublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). SLIT is very popular and used widelyin Europe. It is emerging as an effective treatment strategy in theUnited States as well, with new research being generated regularly tosupport it. More than 300 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journalsprove that sublingual treatment is both safe and effective. Thepublication of the ARIA (Allergy Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma)guidelines, by an international workgroup, indicated that SLIT is aviable treatment approach. A Cochrane Review, the most trustedindependent, evidence-based, meta-analysis organization in the world,released their analysis in 2003 and determined SLIT both safe andeffective.



SLIT, or allergy drops, can be formulated based oneither skin or blood testing. Once formulated, the drops are placedunder the tongue where absorption is ideal. The drops then deliver aslowly increasing dose of physician prescribed antigen. An antigen iswhat the person is allergic to, such as dust, ragweed, etc. The dose iscalculated based on the degree of allergenicity on either the skin orblood testing. The allergy drops are used in gradually increasingdosages affecting the immune system such that there is a development oftolerance to the antigen, the allergy-causing substance. Over time,tolerance to the antigen means that allergy sufferers are no longerexhibiting signs and symptoms of an allergic response. They are able tolead an allergy-free life over time. This is one of the mostgratifying things that I see in my medical practice.

Allergydrops are painless and easy to use. There is no need to go to theallergist’s office to obtain painful weekly or monthly injections.Allergy drops are also more cost-efficient than allergy shots. Thetreatment usually requires approximately 2 office visits a year tooptimize the dose and recheck response. Over time, allergy drop userswill notice that they are able to breathe easier and therefore will beable to wean off the allergy medications that were giving themside-effects of their own.



There are two possible treatmentregimens. The first is a “pre-seasonal treatment,” in which the dropsare more concentrated. This is a quick build up of antigen severalweeks prior to an allergy season. There drops are continued at a lesserconcentration for the duration of the allergy season. Treatment is thenstopped thereafter. The second, and more common, approach is more“regular dosing” for patients with chronic allergies to things likemolds, foods, dust, etc. The treatment can last from one to two years.



Advanced Medicine of New York is pleased to announce that it is now accepting new allergy patients. The approach will becomprehensive; including recommendations in diet as it reflects thepatient’s particular allergy, a focus on natural supplements thatsupport the immune system and fight off an allergic response,medications and/or intravenous treatments as needed, and with SublingualImmunotherapy or allergy drops.

Living Smarter, Living Longer,
Dr. Kroner