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 OTC 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 cannot be skin tested nor receive immunotherapy treatment.
- If you are taking any antidepressants, specifically tricyclic antidepressants and MAOIs, they can affect skin test results. If patients on these medications wish to proceed with skin testing, they need to check with their prescribing doctor to determine if they can be weaned off of this medication for 3 weeks so that they can skin test. Patients can remain on tricyclics and MAOIs during immunotherapy.
- Please eat something prior to coming in for testing.
- Asthma patients: Bring your inhaler with you and notify the nurse before testing begins if you needed to use it this week.
- Please let your allergy technician know if you have a latex allergy or a history of asthma.
|
|
Time Span to Hold |
Common Medications |
|
Antihistamines (H1 Blockers) |
7 days prior to testing |
Allegra®, Benadryl®, Dramamine®, Zyrtec® |
|
Herbals |
7 days prior to testing |
Green tea, licorice, St. John’s wort |
|
Over-the-Counter Combination Medications |
7 days prior to testing |
Alka-Seltzer®, Allerest®, Sudafed® Plus, Theraflu®, Tylenol® PM, Vicks® |
|
Muscle Relaxants |
5 days prior to testing |
Zanaflex®, Flexeril®, Norflex®, Skelaxin® |
|
Reflux Medications (H2 Blockers) |
48 hours prior to testing |
Pepcid®, Tagamet® |
|
Anti-Inflammatories |
The evening before testing |
Advil®, Aleve®, aspirin, Motrin® |
|
Benzodiazepines |
7 days prior to testing |
Xanax®, Valium®, Ativan®, Klonopin® |
|
Topical antihistamines (nasal, ocular) |
7 days prior to testing |
Astelin®, Patanase®, Dymista®, Astepro®, Rylatris®, Patanol®, Pataday®, Optivar®, Pazeo® |
|
Calcineurin inhibitors |
14 days prior to testing |
Specifically Tacrolimus |
|
Topical Steroids |
24 hours prior to testing |
Hydrocortisone, Mometasone, Betamethasone |
|
MAO Inhibitors |
Do not proceed with skin testing unless prescribing physician weans them off |
Marplan®, Nardil®, Parnate® |
|
Tricyclics |
Do not proceed with skin testing unless prescribing physician weans them off |
Elavil®, Asendin™, Sinequan®, Tofranil™ |
|
Beta Blockers |
Do not proceed with skin testing |
Betaloc, Cartrol®, Coreg®, Lopressor®, Tenormin® |
|
Glaucoma Eye Drops |
Do not proceed with skin testing |
Betaxon™, Betoptic®, Ocupress |
|
Biologics |
Do not proceed with skin testing |
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
