Sublingual therapy is treatment by administration of a drop of medicine under the tongue. When taken in this way it is rapidly absorbed by the veins under the tongue, and enters the blood stream as rapidly as by injection. Most patients prefer this type of treatment at any time that symptoms recur without coming in for an injection.
In sublingual therapy for inhalants (dusts, molds and pollens), a small dose of extract is given in one drop under the tongue three times a day. The extracts are mixed so that the total dose for a month or more is in one vial. The patient may obtain relief on one, two, or three drops a day making the extract last for 6 or 7 weeks depending upon the frequency of dosage.
The drop is to be given behind the teeth, under the tongue. The dropper should be held nearly horizontal, as a larger drop is obtained this way then when the dropper is held vertically. Avoid swallowing for a least a minute.
Some cases may require additional therapy at the start of treatment. It is important that treatment be continued over a long period of time, even if it is low dosage. Be sure to have your prescription refilled 1 week in advance if it gets low.
In the case of foods, treatment is based on relieving doses found by provocative food testing. Each drop represents a “relieving dose” and can be taken before or after a given food is eaten, or can be taken when symptoms develop following a reaction from that food. One drop daily or one drop every 2-5 days may be sufficient.
You may start taking the drops 2 days after your test is over.