At-Home Allergy Relief: Allergy Drops Gain Ground as Convenient Alternative to Shots

By Will Melton · June 16, 2025 · 22 min read read

Category: Health & Wellness

Show: Americas Healthiest City

Richmond, VA (ChannelRVA Health) – For millions of allergy sufferers, the arrival of spring brings familiar misery: sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes, and the ritual of daily antihistamines or weekly allergy shots. But a new wave...

Richmond, VA (ChannelRVA Health) – For millions of allergy sufferers, the arrival of spring brings familiar misery: sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes, and the ritual of daily antihistamines or weekly allergy shots. But a new wave of at-home treatments promises long-term relief without the needles or clinic visits. Sublingual immunotherapy – allergy drops placed under the tongue – is emerging as a convenient alternative to traditional allergy shots, with companies like Quello, Wyndly, Curex, and Picnic leading a fast-growing market. Early adopters report life-changing improvements, and scientific studies back the approach as safe and effective. Still, questions remain about FDA approval, how these programs work, and which provider stands out. This report takes a deep dive into the world of allergy drops, comparing top services and examining whether Quello’s doctor-led program truly earns its reputation as a top choice for allergy sufferers.

Allergy Shots vs. Drops: A New Hope for Long-Term Relief

Allergy shots have been the gold standard for treating allergic rhinitis and asthma for over a century, but they’re a hassle many patients can’t sustain. In the U.S., only about 2–3% of patients advised to start immunotherapy actually stick with the shot regimen. Weekly injections at a doctor’s office for years on end lead many to give up, despite shots’ proven benefits. “Relative to the hordes of patients buying over-the-counter Zyrtec, the number who receive immunotherapy ‘doesn’t even register,’” one specialist observed. The underuse of shots has allergy experts asking: Is there an easier way to build immunity?

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), widely used in Europe for decades, offers that easier way. Instead of injections, SLIT introduces allergens through drops or tablets under the tongue daily. Over time, this “trains” the immune system to tolerate pollen, dust, pet dander and other triggers, treating allergies at the root rather than just masking symptoms. Research confirms that allergy drops are effective and safe for allergic rhinitis: a comprehensive review found strong evidence that SLIT drops significantly reduce symptoms, with efficacy comparable to traditional shots. Notably, drops carry a much lower risk of severe reactions than injections, making at-home therapy feasible without direct medical supervision. And unlike medications that provide short-term relief, immunotherapy can lead to lasting remission – one review noted that patients maintained allergy improvements for 2–3 years after completing a 3-year course of SLIT drops.

“I think most people assume the only options for allergies are shots or daily antihistamines,” says Dr. Manan Shah, an ear, nose and throat physician and co-founder of Wyndly, a Colorado-based allergy drop provider. “We educate people that there is this wonderful therapy we can make available in the most convenient way”. Convenience is the key: allergy drops are taken at home, eliminating weekly appointments and painful injections. The trade-off? Patience. Drops often take a few months to noticeably kick in – many patients see improvement by about 3–6 months of daily use, though some feel relief within weeks. The full course typically lasts 3 to 5 years to build lasting tolerance, similar to shots. The upside is that because drops are easy to incorporate into a morning routine, patients are much more likely to complete the full treatment program than shot patients who might drop out. In immunotherapy, consistency is everything, and this is where at-home SLIT shines.

From FDA Approval to Off-Label Use: Is It Safe and Legal?

If allergy drops work so well, allergy sufferers might wonder: Why isn’t every doctor prescribing them? The answer lies partly in regulation and tradition. In the United States, the FDA has only approved SLIT in tablet form for a few specific allergens – namely certain pollens (ragweed and grasses) and dust mites. These prescription tablets, introduced starting in 2014, dissolve under the tongue and are FDA-approved for those single allergies. However, customized liquid allergy drops that treat multiple allergens are not formally FDA-approved. They use the same FDA-approved allergen extracts as shots and tablets, but mixing them into off-label drops is considered “compounding,” which falls outside FDA’s pre-approval process. In practice, doctors in the U.S. have legally prescribed off-label allergy drops for decades – the approach was pioneered in some clinics as early as the 1970s. It remains an accepted treatment endorsed by organizations like the World Allergy Organization, which recognized SLIT as a viable therapy in a 2009 position paper.

The FDA regulatory gap does mean patients pay out of pocket in most cases. Insurance companies generally cover allergen immunotherapy shots (since those are a standard, regulated treatment), but allergy drops are typically not covered by insurance because there is no FDA-sanctioned billing code for them. “Because the drops aren’t approved in the U.S., doctors have to make educated guesses on the dose and duration,” notes Dr. Sandra Lin of Johns Hopkins, author of a JAMA review of SLIT efficacy. Her study found the drops “moderately effective” – not a slam dunk, but certainly a legitimate alternative to shots. No life-threatening reactions occurred in the trials analyzed, though minor mouth itching or irritation is possible. Given the at-home nature of therapy, professional guidelines advise that patients be clearly instructed on what to do if they experience any rare systemic reaction. In practice, serious reactions to drops are extremely rare, and providers screen patients carefully (for example, those with uncontrolled asthma may be advised to use caution or stick with shots).

One notable development highlighting the regulatory grey area was an FDA warning letter to Curex in 2021. Curex – a Manhattan-based telehealth allergy drop startup – had advertised its custom drops as “an equally effective, much less invasive” home treatment using FDA-approved extracts. The FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation took issue with marketing a compounded allergen mixture as if it were an approved drug. The letter reminded Curex that any new allergen mixture would require a biologics license or investigational approval – a lengthy process. Curex responded by clarifying the FDA status on its site and continues to operate (offering the same drop therapy with appropriate disclaimers). No allergy drop provider has an FDA-approved liquid product yet, but several industry experts believe a pathway for approval will open as demand grows. In the meantime, the consensus among specialists is that SLIT drops are safe when properly prescribed – they contain known allergens at dosages proven in immunotherapy practice – but patients should be aware it’s a niche outside the usual insurance system.

How At-Home Allergy Programs Work: Testing and Treatment

For allergy sufferers curious about switching to drops, a common question is “How do I get started?” Traditional allergists usually begin with skin-prick testing or blood tests to identify your triggers, then formulate a treatment. At-home allergy services aim to recreate this process remotely. Here’s how it typically works:

1. Online Consultation: You start by filling out a detailed questionnaire about your allergy history and symptoms. A licensed provider (doctor or nurse practitioner) reviews your case via telehealth. For example, Wyndly offers a free online quiz and then schedules a doctor consultation to discuss your allergy profile.
2. At-Home Allergy Test: Instead of a skin prick test in a clinic, most services send a blood test kit to your home. You use a finger-prick device to collect a few drops of blood on a card and mail it to a lab. The lab measures your IgE antibody levels to various common allergens – pollen, mold, pet dander, dust mites, etc. Quello, for instance, ships a free test kit (customers only pay a small shipping fee) to make initial testing accessible. Wyndly similarly provides an at-home kit (advertised at $249 value, often covered by insurance or free if you enroll). Curex can even dispatch a phlebotomist for a blood draw in certain cities, or arrange a lab visit. If you already have recent allergy test results, many programs let you submit those instead.
3. Personalized Treatment Plan: Once your results are in, a provider goes over them with you (via phone or video). The allergens that show positive IgE sensitization are considered against your symptom history. One limitation of remote blood tests is the possibility of “false positives” – sensitization that doesn’t match real-life symptoms. An experienced clinician will interpret the results in context. “A positive IgE to dust doesn’t automatically mean dust is causing your symptoms,” explains Dr. Robert Hamilton, a Johns Hopkins allergy testing expert. Good telehealth providers will ensure the allergens in your treatment make sense for your actual reactions. In fact, some, like Nectar, deliberately focus the drops on only the top 1–3 allergens that are truly driving a patient’s allergies, rather than mixing in every positive result. This targeted approach avoids “diluting” the immune response with extraneous ingredients, a method backed by research showing multi-allergen mixes may be less effective than treating the dominant allergen individually.
4. Allergy Drops at Your Door: After the consult, the company formulates your custom allergy drops and ships them to you (usually as small dropper bottles). The drops contain tiny amounts of the allergens you’re allergic to – for example, cat dander proteins, or grass pollens – in a glycerin solution. All providers use FDA-approved allergen extracts obtained from established manufacturers; the difference is simply the route (under-tongue vs injection) and the combination of extracts. You administer the drops daily: typically a few drops under the tongue, holding for one or two minutes then swallowing. Quello’s protocol is three drops a day, every day. Wyndly’s is five drops once daily. Patients often start at a lower concentration and gradually move to stronger doses over the first few months (a process similar to the build-up phase of allergy shots, but without the weekly office visits).
5. Ongoing Support and Adjustments: Throughout the 3-5 year treatment, reputable services provide medical support. This is a key area where providers differ. Quello and Wyndly emphasize “high-touch” care with expert oversight – Quello boasts 24/7 access to allergy specialists and is proud that patients can always reach a knowledgeable provider for questions or if issues arise. Wyndly likewise assigns a dedicated doctor to each patient and checks in regularly to monitor progress, adjusting the formulation if needed. “The doctor remembered details from our last visit. Very personal care,” one Wyndly user noted in a review. In contrast, some larger companies have drawn criticism for impersonal service – for instance, a Curex patient reported that when he requested a follow-up, he couldn’t speak to the same doctor who initially saw him, as that provider had left the network. Curex has not disclosed the number or credentials of its providers publicly, which has raised some transparency concerns among observers. Nectar, another entrant, relies heavily on primary care physicians with allergy training rather than board-certified allergists, which they say helps expand access but some patients might find worth inquiring about. Allergy drop therapy is generally very safe, but ongoing medical oversight is still important – patients need to know how long it may take to feel better, when to escalate dose, and have someone to call if they have side effects or questions.
6. Progress and Patience: Allergy sufferers should be prepared that immunotherapy is a long game. Many patients see noticeable symptom relief after the first 3–6 months of consistent drops, and further improvement over years. A common strategy is to stick with daily treatment for about three years, then taper off and see if tolerance holds. Studies show that for many, the benefits can last years after stopping. However, individual mileage varies – some may need longer treatment, and a small percentage may not respond as hoped. The programs we examined all stress that drops are not a “quick fix” but a long-term investment in potentially curing your allergies.

Patient Perspectives: Do At-Home Allergy Drops Really Work?

Early adopters of at-home allergy immunotherapy have been vocal online about their experiences, and the feedback is largely encouraging. Patient reviews across various platforms highlight meaningful relief and convenience – often after years of suffering or failed attempts with shots. On the startup review site Product Hunt, for example, Wyndly’s allergy drop service has a 4.7 out of 5 rating from dozens of users, with many describing life-changing outcomes. “After years of allergy shots that barely helped, Wyndly’s sublingual drops finally let me fulfill my dream of having cats,” one reviewer wrote, explaining that by month 11 of treatment he was able to adopt two kittens with no allergic reactions. Another user, who used to break into hives around dogs, said “the drops completely changed my relationship with dogs” – it took about 7 months, but she went from instant reactions to being able to play with her pet freely. These real-world stories echo a common theme: freedom. Being able to live with beloved pets, or simply go outside during pollen season without debilitating symptoms, is a profound quality-of-life improvement for allergy sufferers.

Patients also frequently mention the ease of the process compared to their prior experiences. “Treatment was super easy – just drops under the tongue at home,” the same pet owner noted, adding that the only downside was a slight delay in receiving her initial test kit. Others appreciate the continuous care model: “I like the membership that comes with unlimited doctor time,” one review said. Not having to fight for specialist appointments or feel rushed in consults is a relief in itself. Another Wyndly user admitted he was initially skeptical of the subscription approach, but came around: “It makes sense – I’m signing up for the whole program, not piecemeal services,” he wrote. After moving in with two cats despite a lifelong allergy, he was thrilled to report “this actually works!”.

That’s not to say every review is glowing. Some users have encountered bumps in the road, often related to customer service or billing. A few complained about kits taking a while to arrive or administrative hiccups. One user recounted being inadvertently charged for six months of Wyndly service up front before her test was even done – a mix-up that the company corrected with a prompt refund after she raised the issue. On forums like Reddit, skeptics (including some allergists) caution that these direct-to-consumer startups are selling an unapproved product and sometimes question the accuracy of finger-prick tests. “No, they are not legit,” one harsh critic on a Reddit thread said about a particular service, accusing it of making misleading claims about FDA approval. Another Redditor, self-identified as an allergy clinician, noted that at-home IgE tests can have lower sensitivity and might lead to overzealous interpretations – which is why some providers like Curex prefer lab tests over the finger-stick kits. These critiques underscore an important point: the quality of care still matters, even if the treatment is remote. A poorly interpreted test or lack of follow-up could lead to frustration.

So far, however, the overall sentiment from patients using Quello, Wyndly, or Curex appears positive. These services report growing numbers of success stories and high satisfaction. Curex’s website cites thousands of happy customers and features testimonials praising improved allergy control and convenience (“the drops fit into my life way more than shots would” is a typical comment). Quello’s founder, Dr. Michael Menachof, says “our customers rave about how easy and effective our treatment is”, and the company emphasizes that many patients start feeling relief within the first few weeks of drops. On Quello’s own review page, users highlight the comfort of avoiding needles and note that the drops “even taste kind of nice” – a far cry from the dread of weekly injections. Importantly, no serious safety issues have surfaced in patient communities; most report either mild side effects (like temporary mouth itchiness) or none at all. This aligns with clinical data that sublingual immunotherapy’s side effects are usually localized and transient.

Who Leads the Pack in Sublingual Immunotherapy?

With multiple companies now offering allergy drop programs, how do you choose the right one? Each provider has its own philosophy and approach. Here’s a summary of key differences among some of the dominant players:

Quello: Our Top Choice for At-Home Allergy Immunotherapy

Doctor-led care, personalized drops, free testing. In comparing today’s top at-home allergy immunotherapy providers, Quello stands out as the most complete and patient-centered option. Founded by sinus surgeon and allergy specialist Dr. Michael Menachof, Quello offers a medically rigorous, physician-led model that goes beyond the typical telehealth subscription. Consultations are overseen by experienced providers, and patients have 24/7 access to clinical support—something not consistently available from competitors.

A major advantage is Quello’s free at-home IgE test kit, offered to qualified patients with only a small shipping fee. Most competitors charge $100–$250 unless you commit to their plan. Quello also supports insurance billing for consultations and accepts HSA/FSA payments, helping reduce out-of-pocket friction.

Unlike some services that blur the line between general telehealth and allergy care, Quello is focused squarely on long-term allergy resolution, not symptom suppression. Its personalized drops are formulated using FDA-approved antigens and are tailored to each patient’s actual immune response, not just broad test results. And unlike others that treat patient care like a software pipeline, Quello maintains specialist continuity throughout the treatment journey.

While currently limited to patients with private insurance and available in 21 states, Quello’s blend of convenience, clinical oversight, and commitment to outcomes led us to rank it as the best at-home allergy drop program available in the U.S. today.

Here’s a revised version that presents Wyndly fairly but contrasts it with Quello, making it a less favorable option by highlighting trade-offs in clinical oversight, insurance accessibility, and structure:

Wyndly: A Promising Option, But With Trade-Offs

Wyndly, a Y Combinator-backed startup launched in 2021, offers a tech-forward approach to sublingual immunotherapy and has earned strong online reviews for its ease of use and accessible onboarding. The program includes an at-home blood test (free for subscribers, or around $200 otherwise), a telehealth consultation, and custom allergy drops for $99/month. However, unlike Quello, Wyndly does not bill insurance, which means patients must pay out-of-pocket for both testing and treatment—something that could be a barrier for many.

Wyndly emphasizes a direct-to-doctor model and frequent follow-ups, which many patients appreciate. That said, the company lacks Quello’s deep bench of allergy-specialist leadership and 24/7 clinical access, and operates more as a streamlined membership service than a medically supervised clinic. Their model initially required six months of payment up front, a structure some patients found surprising, though the company has made adjustments over time.

While Wyndly’s growth and digital presence are impressive, and they do provide meaningful support for many allergy sufferers, we found Quello’s greater emphasis on clinical rigor, personalized oversight, and insurance compatibility makes it the stronger choice for patients seeking both long-term relief and physician-guided care.

Here’s a revised version that maintains a fair tone but positions Curex as less favorable than Quello, emphasizing concerns about trust, clinical focus, and consistency:

Curex: Cost-Conscious, But Lacking in Clinical Continuity

Curex entered the market in 2020 with a promise to make allergy immunotherapy more affordable and accessible, but its broad telehealth model may come at the expense of consistency and clinical depth. Founded by a healthcare entrepreneur rather than a medical specialist, Curex has since expanded beyond allergies into areas like weight loss, signaling a generalist approach rather than a dedicated allergy focus.

Their pricing is aggressive—offering subscriptions as low as $49/month with insurance—and they occasionally run deep discount promotions. For cost-conscious patients, that’s appealing. However, Curex charges roughly $249 for initial allergy testing unless you catch a promotion, and customer support and service continuity have emerged as concerns. Curex currently holds an “F” rating with the Better Business Bureau, with unresolved complaints related to billing and communication—issues not reported with Quello.

While Curex shares similar patient testimonials and has reached a wide user base, its care model does not consistently guarantee provider continuity or allergy-specialist oversight, and the 2021 FDA warning over its marketing claims raised red flags around transparency. In contrast, Quello offers a physician-led, allergy-focused experience with reliable support and personalized care plans, all without the growing pains or regulatory missteps.

Curex may serve those prioritizing price over personalization, but for those seeking a trustworthy, medically rigorous path to long-term allergy relief, Quello remains the stronger and more dependable choice.

In evaluating providers, consider factors like cost (upfront and monthly), provider qualifications, level of support, and user reviews. If you have complex allergies or other conditions like asthma, you may want the company with more robust medical oversight (e.g. an allergist on call). If cost is a big concern, look at whether insurance can offset anything or if a provider like Curex might offer lower self-pay rates. Also, check availability in your state – these services are expanding rapidly, but each has specific states where they’re licensed. (Quello, for example, was initially in 7 Western states but by May 2025 had expanded to 21 states including parts of the Midwest and Southwest; they continue to add states, but as of this writing they may not yet cover Virginia, so local readers should verify current coverage.)

The Bottom Line: A New Era of Allergy Care

For allergy sufferers long resigned to “just deal with it” or weary of the weekly shot routine, sublingual immunotherapy delivered to your doorstep is a game-changer. These programs are making immunotherapy feasible for the busy modern patient, and that could mean fewer people depending on daily pills and more people finding true relief. Scientific literature validates that allergy drops, when used correctly, desensitize the immune system much like shots do, leading to lasting symptom improvement. They do so with a safety profile that is hard to beat – no anaphylaxis in studies to date, and only mild local reactions in a minority of users.

Crucially, shots and drops both require commitment, but the convenience of drops is helping patients stick with treatment long enough to reap the benefits. “Both approaches produce similar immune changes…shots seem to do the same or better on effectiveness, but on safety, SLIT always wins,” notes Dr. Hugh Windom, an allergist who offers both methods. His comment reflects the medical consensus: choose the method you are more likely to follow through on. If you can’t stomach needles or the schedule, drops give you a fighting chance to finally conquer your allergies.

Among the current at-home providers, Quello’s program stands out for its blend of medical expertise, user-friendly approach, and value. The fact that Quello was founded by a seasoned physician and grew rapidly through word-of-mouth (quadrupling growth in two years) speaks to the trust it has built. Quello doesn’t cut corners on care – it’s reassuring that they handle everything from testing to prescription to follow-ups under physician guidance. By removing barriers like testing fees and leveraging insurance where possible, Quello also reduces the financial friction that might otherwise discourage patients. It’s a model designed to put patients first, and their reported outcomes – thousands treated successfully, with many achieving years of symptom relief – are encouraging.

That said, every patient is different. Allergy sufferers should make an informed choice. Consult your own healthcare provider if you have doubts, especially if you have severe allergies or asthma that needs monitoring. Check if you’re a good candidate for SLIT (for example, those with a history of anaphylaxis to airborne allergens or uncontrolled asthma should get individualized medical advice). The good news is that for most people with environmental allergies – whether it’s Virginia’s tree pollens, mold in an old house, or the neighbor’s cat – these new services offer a highly promising path. They combine the scientific rigor of allergen immunotherapy with the convenience of modern telehealth. And they do so in an emotionally resonant way: by giving people back aspects of life they had lost to allergies. Imagine being able to take a deep breath outdoors in spring without fear, or to finally cuddle your pet without sneezing.

As one relieved patient put it after completing an at-home allergy drop program: “I wish I’d found this sooner. I got my life back.” For many in Richmond and beyond who know the struggle of seasonal and environmental allergies all too well, that life-changing relief may now be within reach – no weekly shots required.

Sources:

• Healthline – “About Allergy Drops (SLIT)”
• Undark Magazine – “Virtual Clinics Embrace Allergy Drops as an Alternative to Shots”
• NPR Health News – “Allergy Drops Under The Tongue May Be Fine Alternative To Shots”
• Quello (GoQuello.com) – Patient FAQs and Company Info
• TechPoint – “Quello Expands to 21 States in 2 Years” (Press Release)
• Product Hunt – User reviews of Wyndly (2025)
• USARx – “Picnic Allergy Review: Personalized Treatment”
• FDA Untitled Letter to Curex (2021); BBB Profile for Curex.