Medical Reports: Attack Allergies

WSVN -- For the most part, nothing slows Teresa Pradhan down. Until she went to bat against allergies.

Teresa Pradhan: "You can't breathe. You get a runny nose."

She tried dozens of over-the-counter meds, but her body built up a resistance and she didn't want shots.

Teresa Pradhan: "Most people don't particularly like shots."

Some allergy sufferers need more than 40 shots in a six-month period. Most people just give up.

Teresa Pradhan: "It probably approaches at least 50 percent."

But Teresa is trying a new treatment. Instead of a shot, she gets one drop under her tongue every day.

Dr. John Fahrenholz: "European studies suggest that it's safer, fewer reactions to the drops compared to receiving shots and it's convenient."

And even better theyworked. Teresa found relief.

Teresa Pradhan: "It's great. It's like you can breathe. You can run around."

And that's keeping this softball slugger in the game.

Richard Lemus: "If results of the trial are successful here, the drops could be available in the U.S. within the next few years. Though some doctors are prescribing them off label even though they're not approved by the FDA.

Craig Boerner
Media Relations
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, TN
Craig.boerner@vanderbilt.edu