Environmental Sublingual Immunotherapy
(Environmental SLIT)
Gentle, Needle-Free Approach to Environmental Allergy Treatment at Home
If environmental allergies are disrupting your life with sneezing, a runny nose, itchy eyes, or asthma, there is a safe, effective, and convenient alternative to weekly allergy shots: Environmental Sublingual Immunotherapy, or Environmental SLIT.
Environmental SLIT involves the placement of a small amount of allergens in drop form, under the tongue. This treatment works gradually to help your immune system build tolerance over time.
Environmental SLIT is a treatment designed to help the immune system become less sensitive to common airborne allergens, including tree, grass and weed pollen, dust mites, pet dander and molds.
Environmental SLIT treatment involves an initial visit with your Allergy Partners physician to review your specific allergy history and undergo testing. Based on these results, a customized Environmental SLIT dose will be developed and your initial appointment will be scheduled to begin therapy.
And, just like brushing your teeth, Environmental SLIT will become part of your daily routine.
Why Families and Patients Choose Environmental SLIT
Needle-Free
No injections, just drops placed under the tongue.
Convenient
After your first in-office dose, you will continue daily therapy at home with occasionally scheduled future office visits to review your progress and make adjustments as necessary.
Safe and Well-Tolerated
Well-studied and well-tolerated. Low reaction rates allow individuals to administer Environmental SLIT at home.
Customized for You.
Environmental SLIT is tailored to your specific allergies with the ability to desensitize numerous allergens simultaneously.
Long-Term Relief
Environmental SLIT helps build tolerance and reduces allergic symptoms naturally through low-dose exposure to your allergens.
How Environmental SLIT Works with Your Immune System
Environmental SLIT is customized using precisely measured medical grade extracts which have been naturally derived from environmental allergens.
Environmental SLIT is available in liquid form and is formulated by Allergy Partners Extract Lab to reflect your specific profile.
When placed under the tongue, Environmental SLIT drops enter the bloodstream through mucus membranes in your mouth. Special immune cells recognize the allergen and allow your immune system to build tolerance and become less sensitive over time. This gradual exposure to environmental allergens over time increases the likelihood you may outgrow your allergies.
Environmental SLIT in liquid form is not currently approved by the FDA and is not covered by insurance.
What to Expect During Environmental SLIT Treatment
Getting started with Environmental SLIT is relatively simple. Your Allergy Partners team will guide you every step of the way.
Consultation & Allergy Testing
Your journey begins with a visit to your Allergy Partners doctor. We will review your medical history, symptoms, and perform allergy testing (often a skin test or blood test) to identify which specific environmental allergens are triggering your symptoms.
Personalized Treatment Formula
Based upon your test results, we will provide you with Environmental liquid extract tailored to your unique allergies. Your personalized Environmental SLIT treatment includes precisely measured natural extracts of the allergens causing your reactions.
First Dose Safely Monitored
Your first Environmental SLIT dose is administered in your Allergy Partners doctor’s office. Our team will demonstrate exactly how to use the drops, review your dosing schedule, discuss precautions and possible side effects. We will monitor your first dose for safety.
Daily Routine at Home
Each day you will place the prescribed number of drops under your tongue and hold them there for about a minute before swallowing. Environmental SLIT treatment is quick, painless, and becomes a simple part of your daily allergy treatment routine.
Regular Follow-Ups
You will have periodic check-ups with your Allergy Partners doctor to track your progress, to refill your prescription as needed, and answer any questions you may have.
Long-Term Results
Many patients notice symptom improvement within months and consistency is key in order to achieve best results. The average course of Environmental SLIT is three years, though in some cases it may be continued up to five years.
You will be prescribed a self-injectable epinephrine device, like an EPIPEN Auto-Injector in the rare event of an allergic reaction.
Environmental SLIT vs. Allergy Shots
Feature |
Environmental SLIT |
Allergy Shots |
How It’s Taken |
Liquid drops placed under the tongue every day. |
Weekly injections in the arm. |
Needles Needed? |
No needles. Completely needle-free allergy treatment. |
Yes. |
Setting |
Environmental SLIT doses are taken at home, after the first dose has been administered in the doctor’s office. |
Must be administered in a doctor’s office. |
Time Commitment |
Just a minute each day with follow up visits to your Allergy Partners office on average every six months. |
Ongoing weekly office visits until maintenance is achieved. Then monthly in-office injections for 3-5 years. |
Ideal Patient Profile |
Adults, children, busy families, and anyone with a fear of needles. |
Patients who can attend weekly office visits. |
Effectiveness |
Builds long-term immune tolerance. |
Builds long-term immune tolerance. |
Safety and Effectiveness
Environmental SLIT has been studied in thousands of patients, has an excellent safety record, and is approved worldwide.
Because the treatment is taken as tiny drops under the tongue, the risk of serious side effects is rare. Most people experience little to no discomfort — though some patients will experience mild itching or tingling in the mouth when they first start.
Over time, Environmental SLIT helps “train” your immune system to become less sensitive to allergens, which means fewer symptoms and less need for daily medications.
The first dose is given in-office, and your allergist will review safety steps in detail — including the recommendation to carry epinephrine as a precaution.
Commonly Treated Environmental Allergies
Environmental SLIT can be formulated for many single or combined allergens, including:
Pollen
Dust Mites
Pets
Mold
Your allergy doctor will tailor your Environmental SLIT treatment plan based on your test results and clinical history.
Cost and Insurance Coverage of Environmental SLIT
Environmental SLIT in drop form is not currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and as such, this treatment option is not covered by insurance providers. Individuals and families interested in this treatment option can utilize their FSA (Flexible Spending Account) or HSA (Health Savings Account) to cover the cost.
FSAs are typically sponsored by an employer. These accounts allow employees to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for certain healthcare costs.
HSA’s also use pre-tax money for medical expenses, but they are designed for those enrolled in a high-deductible health plan.
Despite the current lack of insurance coverage, patients with environmental allergies often find the investment in Environmental SLIT drops worthwhile because it provides:
- A needle-free, at-home environmental allergy treatment option
- Long term relief
- Reduced dependence on medication
- Improved quality of life through natural desensitization.
Environmental SLIT tablets are FDA approved.
The ideal patient for this treatment is an individual with only one significant allergen (example: an allergy to only dust mites, or only ragweed). This is not a good treatment option for those individuals with multiple environmental allergens.
We at Allergy Partners are proud to offer Environmental SLIT as a treatment option and will review all costs before any treatment plan is initiated.
Is Environmental SLIT Right for You or Your Family?
If you, or your child, struggle with allergies—such as sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, or asthma symptoms triggered by things like pollen from grass or ragweed, dust, pet dander or molds—then Environmental SLIT may be a great option.
Environmental SLIT may be a treatment option if:
- You prefer a needle-free, at-home allergy therapy.
- You are not a candidate for traditional immunotherapy because of underlying serious health concerns.
- You can commit to a quick daily routine that takes roughly 1-2 minutes on average.
- You are seeking a long-term relief strategy that minimizes or eliminates the need to take medications as opposed to taking medications that mask allergy symptoms.
- Financial cost is not a barrier to receiving SLIT.
Your Allergy Partners doctor will help determine if Environmental SLIT is the right fit for you. We will review your medical history, your allergy test results and compare Environmental SLIT with other treatment options to identify the best plan to fit your specific needs.
Common Side Effects
Environmental SLIT is generally well-tolerated. Side effects are typically mild and temporary. As with any allergy therapy, your allergy doctor will educate you about common side effects and what safety precautions to take for your and your family members on treatment.
Common side effects may include:
- Itchy mouth
- Mild tongue swelling
- Itchy eyes
- Upset stomach.
Severe reactions are rare. To ensure safety, the first dose is given in our office. We will demonstrate how to use the dropper bottle, review your dosing schedule, discuss precautions, and monitor your first dose for safety.
Needle Free Allergy Relief
Environmental SLIT is most effective when taken daily and consistently over several years. Think of it as building new habits for your immune system—it takes time and repetition, like any exercise regimen. By staying on track, you are investing in long-term allergy relief and healthier days ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Environmental SLIT is safe and well-tolerated for both adults and children. Side effects are typically mild when starting therapy and include slight mouth or throat itching.
Missing an occasional dose usually isn’t a problem. Just continue with your next scheduled dose. If you miss several days, contact your Allergy Partners team for guidance before restarting.
Most patients continue Environmental SLIT daily for 3–5 years to achieve long-lasting results. Improvements may be noticed in the first few months, but lasting tolerance takes time.
Currently, most insurance plans cover allergy shots, but they do not cover custom Environmental SLIT drops. In some instances tablets may be a covered insurance expense. Your Allergy Partners team will review treatment costs before beginning this needle-free allergy treatment.
SLIT is used for environmental allergies (like pollen from grass and ragweed, dust, pet dander, and mold). Sublingual Immunotherapy, or SLIT is now also for food allergies. Food SLIT treatment is relatively new, and Allergy Partners is proud to offer this new treatment option.
Your Environmental SLIT drops and tables are provided in a labeled bottle with clear dosing instructions. Your Allergy Partners team will teach you the correct dose and schedule.
Yes, you can combine both Food and Environmental SLIT. In many cases, your Allergy Partners allergist can combine food and environmental drops into one coordinated treatment plan.
Caring Support Every Step of the Way
At Allergy Partners, we understand that choosing an allergy treatment for yourself, or your child, is a big decision. Our physicians and staff provide compassionate, expert care – from testing and diagnosis through daily treatment and follow-up. Our goal is to provide a safe and convenient treatment plan that works for you and your family.
We are proud to offer Environmental SLIT, a needle-free, at-home allergy treatment backed by science and guided by allergy specialists. You will have the support of a trusted medical team that provides personalized care, close follow-up, and on-going education to help you reach greater freedom from environmental allergy symptoms.
Before beginning Environmental SLIT, or other immunotherapy, it is important to understand the benefits, risks, and costs. Your Allergy Partners physician can provide more information regarding treatment results, duration, and risks of anaphylaxis, as well as the importance of adhering to the daily therapy schedule.
If you are interested in learning more about Environmental SLIT, our Allergy Partners board-certified allergists would be glad to discuss details with you, including what to expect and how soon you might see relief.
