Update on SLIT for Cat/Dog after 6 months
I wanted to give an update on my SLIT (Sublingual Immunotherapy aka drops) for cat and dog.
For info, I am in the US and have taken SLIT from a certified and reputable allergist in my area who offered SLIT or SCIT for my severe allergies to cat and dogs.
Symptoms included only asthma for me, but it was extremely debilitating. I could not hangout with friends who owned pet or be next to them. I could not be in proximity of any item owned by a cat owner, let alone pets themselves.
I am happy to report that after 6 months of treatment I can already see a big difference in how I react. Not to the point that I could own a cat or stay at a pet owner’s place. But enough that I regained significant lifestyle. I can finally hangout with my pet lover friends in a restaurant without having an asthma attack and lingering symptoms for days. I can handle low exposure to pets. And if I have symptoms they are minor and only last for 10min. I do not need to wash everything that was potentially touched by allergens.
Full effects of SLIT happens after 1.5 year and long lasting results are seen if treatment is maintained for 5, so progress will likely continue.
For info my allergist reports in his office that he has as much good results from SLIT to SCIT.
I also had SLIT for other allergens including grass, pollen, mold and dust mite (vials are not mixed together, cats and dog are their own separated vial).
I wanted to share my story because I have had people on this subreddit telling me how irresponsible it was for my allergist to recommend SLIT for cats because it is not FDA approved (which is true, but it doesn’t mean the treatment is inefficient if well dosed and followed religiously), and how I was wasting my money, or worse that this is a scam etc.
I am not a doctor, so I wont enter into the details of lack of FDA approval entails (the only thing I know for certain is you wont be able to be refunded by insurance, but it was fitting my lifestyle better than taking shots every week). Do your own research if you are interested in knowing more about SLIT and FDA approval and ask multiple professionals, do not just read what is on the internet.
It goes without saying I guess, but don’t let yourself intimidated by people on Reddit who are in the end no professionals, no matter with how much authority they speak to you.
I am also not saying to use SLIT over SCIT.
It works for me, it may not work for you, you might react better with SCIT. But I am just giving a counter point to some posts and messages I’ve been seeing a few months back on this subreddit which caused distress at a time where I needed reassurance and answers.
Hope this gives some insights to some allergy sufferers seeking treatment. In the end, we are all looking ways to feel better.