MEDICATIONS TO AVOID PRIOR TO ALLERGY TESTING

Patients scheduled for allergy skin testing must stop taking any medications that contain antihistamines as they will affect the results of your test. This includes both over-the-counter as well as prescription medications. Do not discontinue antidepressants/psychotropic medications or any other medications without consulting with your prescribing physician. Call your pharmacy or prescribing physician if you are unsure about the names of your medications.

In general, we ask that you try to avoid these medications for 7 days before your appointment. If you are very sick and can’t avoid these medications, you should keep your appointment anyway – we may be able to replace your medications with ones that don’t affect the skin testing results.

As a rule, asthma medications do NOT affect skin testing results (e.g. singular, inhalers) and should be continued. Also, single-ingredient decongestant preparations (e.g. Sudafed, phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine) can be taken. All Nasal sprays can be used except Azelastine, Astelin, Astepro, Dymista, and Patanase. If there are any questions about a certain medication, please speak to your pharmacist or our nursing staff.