Prepare for Allergy Testing

Before completing allergy testing, it is important to consider that some medications can affect test results. To ensure accurate testing and results, we ask that you carefully review the following list of medications, keeping in mind that not all medications will be listed. Please compare this list with any medications that you are currently taking and feel free to reach out with any questions you have pertaining to what needs to be stopped prior to your allergy testing appointment.

If you have any questions or need help reviewing your medications, please contact our nursing staff at: (904) 880-0911

Please contact your physician prior to stopping any prescription medications.

If you are taking over-the-counter medications, please read the ingredients on the back of the box/bottle.

Antihistamines

Please stop the following medications 7 days prior to testing

Antihistamine nasal sprays and eye drops should be held for 72 hours prior to testing.

Oral Medications	Nasal Sprays	Eye Drops
Alavert (loratadine) Allegra (fexofenadine) Aller-chlor or Allerx (chlorpheniramine) Atarax (hydroxyzine) Benadryl (diphenhydramine) Chlor-trimeton (chlorpheniramine) Claritin (loratadine) Clarinex (desloratadine) Dimetapp Cold & Allergy (brompheniramine) Cyproheptadine Dramamine/Antivert (meclizine) Phenergan (promethazine) Semprex-D (acrivastine) Tavist (clemastine) Tussionex (chlorpheniramine) Tylenol Allergy, Sinus, Cold & Flu, and PM Vistaril (hydroxyzine) Xyzal (levocetirizine) Zyrtec (cetirizine)	Astelin, Astepro, Dymista (Azelastine) Patanase (olopatadine)	Alaway (ketotifen) Bepreve (bepotastine) Elestat (epinastine) Emadine (emedastine) Ketotifen Lastacaft (alcaftadine) Naphcon A, Opcon-A, Visine-A (naphazoline/pheniramine) Optivar (azelastine) Patanol, Pataday, or Pazeo (olopatadine) Zaditor or Zyrtec eye drops (ketotifen)

Over-the-counter allergy and sleep medications often contain an antihistamine.

Antacids (H2 Blockers)

Stop taking the following medications 2 days prior to testing; other antacids or acid reflux medications will not affect your testing.

• Pepcid (famotidine)

• Zantac (ranitidine)

• Tagamet (cimetidine)

Asthma Medications (Inhalers)

Please DO NOT stop these medications; they will not affect your allergy testing.

Beta-Blockers (heart or blood pressure medications, also in some eye drops)

You will need to be off the following medications 5 days prior to your testing. Please consult the provider who prescribed the medication. Although these medications will not affect your testing, stopping them is a safety measure.

You can resume your beta-blocker after your testing is completed.

Oral Medications (some are diuretics that include a beta-blocker)

• Betapace (Sotalol)

• Blocadren (Timolol)

• Brevibloc (Esmolol)

• Bystolic (nebivolol)

• Cartrol Filmtab (Carteolol)

• Coreg (Carvedilol)

• Corgard (nadolol)

• Corzide (Nadolol)

• Inderal LA (propranolol)

• Inderide (Propranolol)

• Inderide LA (Propranolol)

• InnoPran XL (propranolol)

• Kerlone (Betaxolol)

• Levatol (Penbutolol)

• Lopressor (metoprolol)

• Lopressor HCT (metoprolol)

• Normodyne (Labetolol)

• Sectral (Acebutolol)

• Tenoretic (Atenolol)

• Tenormin (atenolol)

• Timolide (Timolol)

• Toprol-XL (metoprolol)

• Trandate (Labetolol)

• Trasicor (Oxprenolol)

• Visken (Pindolol)

• Zebeta (bisoprolol)

• Ziac (Bisoprolol)

Ophthalmic (Eye) Drops

• Betimol (Timolol)

• Betagan (Levobunolol)

• Betoptic Ophthalmic (Betaxolol)

• Cosopt (Timolol)

• Ocupress (Carteolol)

• Timoptic (Timolol)

Benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety medications)

It is recommended that these medications be stopped 7 days prior to your allergy testing. It is very important to consult with the provider who prescribed these medications prior to stopping them.

• Alprazolam (Xanax)

• Clonazepam (Klonopin)

• Diazepam (Valium)

• Lorazepam (Ativan)

• Midazolam (Versed)

• Temazepam (Restoril)

Immunomodulators

Need to be off 6 months prior to testing. Please do not stop this medication; consult with our office first.

Omalizumab (Xolair)

Intra-Nasal Steroid Sprays or Rinses

These medications do not affect your allergy testing.

Steroids: Oral, Injection or Topical

If you are on long-term use of steroids or have been on high-dose steroids, please consult with our office. For topical steroids, it is recommended to not be used in the area being tested for 3 weeks.

Over-the-Counter Sleep Aids

Some prescription or over the counter sleep aids may need to be stopped 7 days prior to allergy testing.

Please review the ingredients of any over-the-counter sleep medications, as they often contain antihistamines.

Tricyclic Antidepressants

It is recommended that these medications be stopped 14 days prior to your allergy testing. It is very important to consult with the provider who prescribed these medications prior to stopping them.

• Amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep, Etrafon, Limbitrol, Vanatrip)

• Amoxapine (Asendin)

• Clomipramine (Anafranil)

• Desipramine (Norpramin)

• Doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan)

• Imipramine (Tofranil)

• Nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor)

• Protriptyline (Vivactil)

• Trimipramine (Surmontil)

Atypical Antidepressants and Sedatives

It is recommended that these medications be stopped 14 days prior to your allergy testing. It is very important to consult with the provider who prescribed these medications prior to stopping them.

• Bupropion (Wellbutrin)

• Eszopiclone (Lunesta)

• Mirtazapine (Remeron)

• Quetiapine (Seroquel)

• Trazodone (Oleptro)

• Zolpidem (Ambien)