ENTtoday
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • Practice Focus
    • Allergy
    • Facial Plastic/Reconstructive
    • Head and Neck
    • Laryngology
    • Otology/Neurotology
    • Pediatric
    • Rhinology
    • Sleep Medicine
  • Departments
    • Issue Archive
    • TRIO Best Practices
      • Allergy
      • Facial Plastic/Reconstructive
      • Head and Neck
      • Laryngology
      • Otology/Neurotology
      • Pediatric
      • Rhinology
      • Sleep Medicine
    • Career Development
    • Case of the Month
    • Everyday Ethics
    • Health Policy
    • Legal Matters
    • Letter From the Editor
    • Medical Education
    • Online Exclusives
    • Practice Management
    • Resident Focus
    • Rx: Wellness
    • Special Reports
    • Tech Talk
    • Viewpoint
    • What’s Your O.R. Playlist?
  • Literature Reviews
    • Allergy
    • Facial Plastic/Reconstructive
    • Head and Neck
    • Laryngology
    • Otology/Neurotology
    • Pediatric
    • Rhinology
    • Sleep Medicine
  • Events
    • Featured Events
    • TRIO Meetings
  • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
    • Triological Society
    • Advertising Staff
    • Subscribe
  • Advertise
    • Place an Ad
    • Classifieds
    • Rate Card
  • Search

FDA Approves First Sublingual Allergy Immunotherapy Agents

by Cheryl Alkon • June 1, 2014

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version

While this form of immunotherapy is new to the United States, it has been used safely in Europe for about two decades, said Dr. Sautter. Some physicians in the U.S. have also used allergy serums sublingually through off-label prescription. “The advantage of having FDA approval for these tablets means the patient receives the same dose of the medication every time in a form that is more effectively absorbed under the tongue,” he said.

You Might Also Like

No related posts.

Explore This Issue
June 2014

The risk of anaphylaxis and throat swelling is decreased with oral immunotherapy compared with injections, which is why patients can move out of the physician’s office after the first treatment; however, all patients on oral immunotherapy are advised to have a readily accessible dose of an auto-injectable epinephrine in case a problem occurs away from the physician’s office.

Who Benefits

“For people who have more persistent seasonal allergic rhinitis but who haven’t tried injection therapy, these medications are likely to become a new form of treating allergies without shots,” said Dr. Marple. Oralair is approved for patients as young as five years old, and Grastek is approved for those aged 10 and older. “It’s ideal for pediatric patients, because children are really not big fans of having an injection every one to two weeks,” said Dr. Marple.

But not all patients benefit from oral immunotherapy, said Dr. Sautter. “What I’ve seen estimated is up to an average of 30% reduction in allergic symptoms in every patient,” he said. “Some people will derive more benefits and some will derive less. In some patients, allergy symptoms will go away completely.”

Oral immunotherapy is not recommended for patients with severe, unstable, or uncontrolled asthma, those who may have certain underlying medical conditions that are not compatible with severe allergic reactions, those who may be allergic to the ingredients in the medication itself, or those who are on beta blockers, which can interact poorly with oral immunotherapy.

What Otolaryngologists Need to Know

Physicians who treat patients with grass or ragweed allergies should know that there’s an alternative to allergy shots, said Linda Cox, MD, the immediate past president of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. “As far as we know, serious side effects are rare, and from a positive standpoint, patients have a new way to treat seasonal allergy.”

The cost to patients for allergy treatments varies with the number of allergies being treated as well as the frequency with which the shots are given, but Dr. Sautter said that a good estimate for one month of allergy shots is approximately $75. Citing a Merck press release, Dr. Sautter added that the cost of one Grastek or Ragwitek pill is $8, or $240 for a one-month supply.

Pages: 1 2 3 | Single Page

Filed Under: Allergy, Features, Practice Focus Tagged With: allergy, SLITIssue: June 2014

You Might Also Like:

The Triological SocietyENTtoday is a publication of The Triological Society.

The Laryngoscope
Ensure you have all the latest research at your fingertips; Subscribe to The Laryngoscope today!

Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology
Open access journal in otolaryngology – head and neck surgery is currently accepting submissions.

Classifieds

View the classified ads »

TRIO Best Practices

View the TRIO Best Practices »

Top Articles for Residents

  • Do Training Programs Give Otolaryngology Residents the Necessary Tools to Do Productive Research?
  • Why More MDs, Medical Residents Are Choosing to Pursue Additional Academic Degrees
  • What Physicians Need to Know about Investing Before Hiring a Financial Advisor
  • Tips to Help You Regain Your Sense of Self
  • Should USMLE Step 1 Change from Numeric Score to Pass/Fail?
  • Popular this Week
  • Most Popular
  • Most Recent
    • The Dramatic Rise in Tongue Tie and Lip Tie Treatment
    • Vertigo in the Elderly: What Does It Mean?
    • Some Studies Predict a Shortage of Otolaryngologists. Do the Numbers Support Them?
    • Neurogenic Cough Is Often a Diagnosis of Exclusion
    • Complications for When Physicians Change a Maiden Name
    • Vertigo in the Elderly: What Does It Mean?
    • New Developments in the Management of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
    • Some Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Resists PPI Treatment
    • The Dramatic Rise in Tongue Tie and Lip Tie Treatment
    • Eustachian Tuboplasty: A Potential New Option for Chronic Tube Dysfunction and Patulous Disease
    • Tympanoplasty Tips: Otology Experts Give Advice on the Procedure
    • How Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Is Evolving to Give Patients a Better Night’s Sleep
    • Vestibular Schwannoma Position Relative to Internal Auditory Canal Helps Predict Postoperative Facial Function
    • Vocal Fold Lipoaugmentation Provides Long-Term Voice Improvements for Glottal Insufficiency
    • Upper Lateral Cartilage Mucosal Flap Enables the Successful Closure of Larger Septal Perforations

Polls

Do you think there will be a shortage of otolaryngologists in the next five to 10 years?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
  • Polls Archive
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Visit: The Triological Society • The Laryngoscope • Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology

Wiley
© 2022 The Triological Society. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN 1559-4939

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.