Allergy Testing Instructions
Allergy Testing Instructions
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- Allergy skin testing takes approximately 2 hours to complete.
- Please wear something short-sleeved or sleeveless.
- Do not wear any perfume, perfumed lotion, or cologne to your testing appointment.
- IMPORTANT: Please stop all antihistamines, nasal sprays, and over-the-counter sleep medications as per the table below. Other medicines are listed below also that would need to be stopped.
- If you are taking a Beta blocker (medicine commonly used for migraine headaches, high blood pressure, heart-rate control, performance anxiety, and glaucoma), you should either talk to your doctor that prescribed this medication about switching to a different medication or speak to the allergy team about alternative options of skin testing and immunotherapy treatment.
- Please eat something prior to coming in for testing.
- Asthma patients: Bring your inhaler with you and notify the allergy team before testing if you have had breathing difficulties or needed to use your rescue inhaler this week.
- Please let your allergy technician know if you have a latex allergy or a history of asthma.
- Please let your allergy team know if your medical history has changed or if you may be pregnant.
|
|
Time Span to Hold |
Common Medications |
|
Topical Steroids |
14 days prior to testing |
Hydrocortisone, Mometasone, Betamethasone |
|
Cold and Sinus Medications |
7 days prior to testing |
Alka-Seltzer®, Allerest®, Sudafed® Plus, Theraflu®, Tylenol® PM, Vicks® |
|
Antihistamines (H1 Blockers) |
7 days prior to testing |
Allegra®, Benadryl®, Dramamine®, Zyrtec® |
|
Reflux Medications (H2 Blockers) |
48 hours prior to testing |
Pepcid®, Tagamet® |
|
Topical antihistamines (nasal, ocular) |
48 hours prior to testing |
Astelin®, Patanase®, Dymista®, Astepro®, Rylatris®, Patanol®, Pataday®, Optivar®, Pazeo® |
|
MAO Inhibitors |
Speak to your allergy team |
Marplan®, Nardil®, Parnate® |
|
Tricyclics |
Speak to your allergy team |
Elavil®, Asendin™, Sinequan®, Tofranil™ |
|
Benzodiazepines |
Speak to your allergy team |
Specifically Tacrolimus |
|
Beta Blockers |
Speak to your allergy team |
Betaloc, Cartrol®, Coreg®, Lopressor®, Tenormin®, Betaxon™, Betoptic®, Ocupress |
|
Biologics |
Speak to your allergy team |
Dupixent ®, Tezspire ®, Xolair® |
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
If you need to reschedule your appointment, you must do so within 48 hours of the scheduled appointment or you may incur a $150 no show/late cancellation fee.
Thank you!
Allergy Department
