Could pills replace shots for certain allergies?

Could pills replace allergy shots as a source of relief?

For millions of Americans, a change in the seasons brings with it severe allergy symptoms. Coughing, itching, sneezing and runny noses are all things that those who suffer from allergies or asthma experience on a daily basis. While nobody enjoys going to the doctor for allergy shots, it is a necessary evil to keeping your immune system ready to fight off any potential pollutants. But now the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering something that could revolutionize the allergy world: replacing shots with pills.

There is a new kind of pill that has recently undergone FDA testing with the safety group advisory panel recommending approval for sale to the general public. The tablet that is currently being studied has a narrow use, however, and would only be taken to prevent grass pollen allergies, which are the most common during the spring and early summer. The pills are something that could be taken at home on a daily basis, but the first dose would need to be taken at the doctor’s office to see if you have any kind of reaction to the medication.

The tablet contains grass pollen and is taken by being placed right under the tongue and dissolving. It is intended to be taken daily for the twelve weeks leading up to grass pollen season, and for the entire allergy season retrains the body’s immune system to not react so strongly to allergens in the air. Some people might experience some minor reactions.

“The need for something like this in the consumer market is high. You can do this therapy at home every day. About 30 percent of people who put this tablet under their tongue will have itching, maybe some minor swelling,” allergist Dr. David Skoner told CBS Chicago.

While these pills are still being tested, alleviate your allergy symptoms with a Rabbit purifier from US Air Purifiers.