New allergy *ACHOO!* drugs available

[Bob Of Burleson]

New tablets could be alternative to allergy shots

JConline.com

What if you could dissolve away allergy symptoms instead of getting numerous shots?

That option is now available for people who are allergic to ragweed pollen or certain types of grass, such as Timothy and Bluegrass.

Three drugs designed to dissolve under the tongue — Grastek, Oralair and Ragwitek — recently were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

For some people, these tablets are "an alternative to allergy shots when your symptoms are not very well controlled by nose sprays or medications," said Dr. Derek Damin, an allergist with Allergy Partners of Louisville. "I think it's something that will become more popular with each subsequent year."

Ragwitek is for adults allergic to ragweed. Oralair and Grastek are for adults and children who are allergic to particular grasses.

For this year, "we've already missed the optimal timing for the grass tablets," Damin said. But "if you remember having a bad ragweed season last year, this would be something that you might want to entertain starting now."

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