Why doctors recommend immunotherapy
Allergists don't recommend immunotherapy lightly — they recommend it because it's the only treatment that addresses the underlying immune dysfunction driving your allergies, rather than simply suppressing symptoms.
Treats the cause, not the symptoms
Antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal sprays provide temporary relief. Immunotherapy retrains your immune system at the cellular level — teaching it that pollen, dust, and dander are not threats. Over time, the allergic response itself diminishes.
As close to natural as medicine gets
Immunotherapy works with your body, not against it. By introducing tiny, gradually increasing amounts of natural allergen extracts, it harnesses your immune system's own ability to build tolerance — the same process your body uses to develop immunity to infections.
Lasting relief, even after treatment ends
Unlike medications that stop working the moment you stop taking them, the benefits of immunotherapy can persist for years — even decades — after you complete your treatment course. Studies show sustained remission in the majority of patients.
Prevents disease progression
Allergies tend to worsen over time. Untreated allergic rhinitis can progress to asthma. Immunotherapy has been shown to halt this "allergic march," reducing the risk of developing asthma in children and adults with allergic rhinitis by up to 40%.
Reduces medication dependence
Most immunotherapy patients significantly reduce — or completely eliminate — their need for daily allergy medications. Your body learns to manage allergen exposure on its own, the way a non-allergic person's immune system naturally does.
The gold standard, made accessible
Allergists have recommended immunotherapy for over a century. Curex makes this gold-standard treatment accessible by bringing it online — with board-certified allergists, at-home allergy testing, and custom drops delivered to your door.
Are drops right for you?
Allergy drops may be a good fit if your symptoms are hard to control, you are tired of relying on allergy medications, or you want a convenient alternative to allergy shots.
Good candidates
Adults and children with confirmed allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, or food allergies who want a long-term solution. Patients who've tried antihistamines or nasal sprays without lasting relief. Those who can't tolerate needles, can't make regular office visits, or want to treat at home.
May not be right for you
If your symptoms are occasional and well managed with an antihistamine or nasal spray, immunotherapy may be more treatment than you need. If you have uncontrolled asthma, your doctor will likely prescribe medication to stabilize it before starting allergy drops. Certain conditions — such as mast cell disease or EoE — or the use of beta-blockers may increase risk.
Allergy drops vs. allergy shots
Both allergy drops and allergy shots use immunotherapy to desensitize your immune system. The difference is how — and where — treatment happens.
|
Allergy Drops |
Allergy Shots |
| Where | At home — drops under the tongue | In-office injections, every 1–2 weeks |
| Needles | ✓ None | ✗ Required |
| Time commitment | ~2 minutes per day at home | 1–3 hours per visit including wait times |
| Risk of anaphylaxis | ✓ Extremely rare | ✗ Possible — requires in-office monitoring |
| Suitable for children | ✓ Yes — preferred for young patients | Yes, but needles can be distressing |
| Food allergy treatment | ✓ Available | ✗ Not applicable |
| Custom formulation | ✓ Yes — personalized to your allergy profile | ✓ Yes — personalized to your allergy profile |
| Clinical efficacy | Comparable long-term outcomes | Comparable long-term outcomes |
Allergy drops vs. SLIT tablets
Both allergy drops and SLIT tablets are forms of sublingual immunotherapy — but they differ in flexibility, customization, and allergen coverage. There are currently four FDA-approved SLIT tablets: Grastek (timothy grass), Ragwitek (ragweed), Odactra (dust mite), and Palforzia (peanut, oral). Allergy drops are custom-compounded to address your full allergen profile in a single formulation.
|
Allergy Drops |
SLIT Tablets |
| Allergen coverage | ✓ Multiple allergens in one formulation | Single allergen per tablet |
| Customization | ✓ Fully personalized to your allergy profile | ✗ Fixed, pre-manufactured formulas |
| FDA status | Off-label (compounded, personalized) | FDA-approved |
| Where | At home | In office for first dose |
| Food allergy treatment | ✓ Available | ✗ Not available |
| Dosing flexibility | ✓ Adjustable by your allergist | Fixed dose |
| Available allergens | ✓ Broad — pollen, dust, mold, pets, foods | Timothy grass, ragweed, dust mites only |
Food allergies
For families managing food allergies, sublingual immunotherapy offers a safer, lower-side-effect alternative to traditional oral immunotherapy (OIT) — with treatment that can be done entirely at home.
Why families are choosing allergy drops over OIT
Oral immunotherapy requires patients to eat increasing doses of the food they're allergic to — often causing significant gastrointestinal distress, with up to 20% of patients discontinuing due to side effects. Sublingual food immunotherapy delivers micro-doses of allergen protein under the tongue, bypassing the gut entirely. The result: far fewer adverse reactions, better adherence, and a treatment experience that's dramatically less stressful — especially for children.
PeanutTree NutsMilkEgg
WheatSoySesameShellfish
UNC School of Medicine research
Researchers at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine conducted studies demonstrating that sublingual immunotherapy for food allergies is both safe and effective, showing significant increases in tolerated food protein doses with a favorable side-effect profile compared to oral immunotherapy.
UNC School of Medicine, Food Allergy SLIT Studies
50 years of clinical experience
Allergy Associates of La Crosse has been offering sublingual immunotherapy for food allergies for over 50 years, treating thousands of patients with personalized allergy drop protocols. Their long track record demonstrates strong real-world outcomes across a wide range of food allergens.
Allergy Associates of La Crosse, WI
Asthma
Allergies are the most common trigger of asthma. When your immune system overreacts to airborne allergens, it can inflame and constrict the airways — leading to wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Allergy drops target this root cause.
Reduces asthma symptoms
Clinical studies show sublingual immunotherapy significantly reduces asthma symptom scores, rescue inhaler use, and the need for corticosteroids in patients with allergic asthma. By calming the underlying allergic response, the airways stay more open and less reactive.
Prevents asthma from developing
The landmark GAP trial demonstrated that sublingual immunotherapy reduced the risk of children with allergic rhinitis developing asthma by 40%. Immunotherapy is the only treatment shown to prevent this progression — known as the "allergic march."
A disease-modifying approach
Inhalers and steroids manage asthma symptoms. Allergy drops address the allergic inflammation that triggers asthma attacks in the first place. For patients with allergic asthma, treating the allergy can mean better long-term asthma control with fewer medications.
Eczema
Atopic dermatitis (eczema) is closely linked to allergies. In many patients — especially children — eczema is the first sign of an overactive immune system that will later develop into allergic rhinitis and asthma. Allergy drops can help address this underlying immune dysfunction.
The allergy-eczema connection
Up to 80% of children with eczema go on to develop allergic rhinitis or asthma. Environmental allergens like dust mites and pet dander can trigger or worsen eczema flares. By desensitizing the immune system to these triggers, allergy drops may help reduce the frequency and severity of flare-ups.
Emerging evidence
Research suggests sublingual immunotherapy can improve eczema severity scores — particularly in patients whose eczema is driven by specific allergen sensitivities. While more studies are underway, many allergists are already incorporating SLIT into treatment plans for patients with allergic eczema.
Cost and coverage
Allergy drops are compounded medications — personalized for each patient — which are typically not covered by standard health insurance. Allergy drops normally cost about $1,000 per year. However, the associated allergy testing and physician consultations are normally covered by insurance plans.
FSA / HSA eligible
Allergy drops, along with allergy testing and allergist consultations, are eligible for reimbursement through Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA), helping offset out-of-pocket costs.
How allergy shots compare
Allergy shots may be covered by insurance, but for patients on deductible plans, that often means at least $2,000 or more in out-of-pocket responsibility before coverage kicks in — plus the cost of frequent office visits, co-pays, and time off work or school.
The real cost of doing nothing
Americans spend an average of $3,000–$5,000 per year managing allergy symptoms through medications, doctor visits, and lost productivity. Immunotherapy is an investment in a lasting solution — one that can reduce or eliminate those recurring costs over time.
How to get started
You can get started with allergy drops by visiting a local allergy clinic that offers sublingual immunotherapy. Or try Curex — the largest online allergy clinic in the U.S., currently treating over 50,000 patients. No referrals, no waiting rooms, no weekly office visits.
From Consultation to Relief
1
Take the eligibility quiz
A quick online assessment to see if allergy drops are right for your symptoms and health history.
2
Get tested at home
We send an at-home allergy test kit to identify your exact triggers — environmental, food, or both.
3
Meet your allergist
A board-certified allergist reviews your results and creates a personalized treatment plan via telehealth.
4
Receive custom drops
Your custom-formulated allergy drops are delivered to your door. Place drops under your tongue daily — done.
