Patients are encouraged to bring medical records of any previous allergy treatment, including written reports of x-rays, CT scans, and MRI's as well as pulmonary function tests, relevant medication bottles or prescriptions, and prior allergy testing and laboratory results.
If you suspect that you will need allergy skin testing for either food or airborne allergy testing, please try to avoid any medications that contain antihistamines or have antihistaminic properties for five days prior to your visit. These medications can suppress allergic reactions so that the skin testing is less reliable. However, if your symptoms are intolerable without these medications, please continue to take them and we will figure out the best way to pursue allergy testing. These medications include:
• Prescription antihistamines, such as fexofenadine (Allegra), cetirizine (Zyrtec), hydroxyzine, or cyproheptadine (Periactin)
• Over-the-counter antihistamines (Benadryl, Chlor-Trimeton, Claritin, and others)
• Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline and doxepin (Sinequan)
• Heartburn medications, such as cimetidine (Tagamet) and ranitidine (Zantac)
• The nasal antihistamine spray azelastine (Astelin) Prescription antihistamines, such as fexofenadine (Allegra), cetirizine (Zyrtec), hydroxyzine, or cyproheptadine (Periactin)
• If your symptoms are intolerable without these medications, please take them regardless and we will figure out the best way to pursue allergy testing.
Other medications may increase your risk of developing a severe allergic reaction during a test, particularly the Beta-Blocker class of medications, which are usually given to patients with heart problems or high blood pressure. Please inform the doctor if you are, or suspect that you may be taking such medication, but do not stop taking these medications without consulting a physician. Examples of Beta-Blockers include Toprol, Inderal, Coreg, and Lopressor.
Do not stop taking:
• Cortisone nasal sprays (Flonase, Nasonex, Nasacort AQ, Rhinocort, etc.)
• Asthma medications (Albuterol, Flovent, Singulair, Advair, etc.)
• Antibiotics
• Eye drops for allergy (Patanol, Zaditor, etc.)
• Decongestants (Sudafed, Prolex D, etc.)
• Oral steroids (Prednisone, Medrol, Prelone, etc.)
• Medicines for other conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, reflux, high blood pressure, birth control pills, etc.