Your OIT/SLIT
Experience

Here at Windom Allergy you or your child can choose the treatment course that is just right for you. We offer traditional oral immunotherapy (OIT), a modified OIT protocol (the Sarasota protocol) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). Each treatment has distinct features of visit frequency, safety, cost and taste. We will tailor your treatment course especially for you and, if best laid plans don't work out, we can always transition you to a different form of treatment.

Traditional

We have been offering oral immunotherapy (OIT) by the traditional protocol since 2012. You will come to the office every 1-2 weeks for a gradually increasing dose. That dose is taken daily at home until the next time you come in. Following each dose there is a two-hour rest period. The typical time course is 6-8 months to your top dose. Average cost ~$4,000 (not covered by insurance).

OIT

"Traditional"

Sarasota Protocol

In an effort to make OIT less burdensome and more affordable we developed the Sarasota Protocol. This consists of 7-8 monthly visits with two doses 30 minutes apart in the office. You will dose daily at home followed by the same two hour rest period as above. The typical time course is 7-8 months. Cost ~$1000-3,000 depending on your deductible and copay.

OIT

"Sarasota Protocol"

SLIT

Administering allergens under the tongue, or sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) only requires a fraction of the dose administered orally. By virtue of such a low, effective dose, adverse reactions are rare. We offer food SLIT in patients over 5 years old (they have to be mature enough to hold the small dose under their tongue for two minutes). There are 4 visits, 1-2 weeks apart with a typical time course of ~1 month. Unlike OIT, there is no rest period before or after dosing with SLIT. We tested a dozen patients on an exercise bike with dosing immediately after exercise, followed by more exercise post-dose: they all did great!

The average cost is ~$1000-$2,000 depending on your deductible and copay.

SLIT

"Under the Tongue"

Options, options, options

All three treatments require daily dosing at home between visits and ongoing maintenance dosing at the completion of the build-up phase. Dosing continues indefinitely to maintain desensitization. Allergy testing will be done annually to track your declining sensitivity to the food. Each year we aim to slowly reduce your dosing frequency from daily to a few times a week and even less for those that start at a young age.

YOUR CHOICE

"Over 600 people have undergone one form of desensitization or another at Windom Allergy." What are you waiting for?

Top dose?

For those on OIT, the answer depends on you. Some people just want to be safe with eating, but don't really want to add the food to their diet. They will aim for a lower maintenance dose than those wanting to freely eat the food. The typical oral maintenance dose of each food is listed below. SLIT patients stay on their same 0.2-0.3 ml dose (1/20th of a teaspoon). These patients will be challenged each year to the food by mouth to make sure they can tolerate the food. If they wish to switch over to dosing orally, they can do so at any time.