Medications to discontinue before allergy skin test appointment

Antihistamines, prescription and over the counter ones, negatively affect the results of skin tests. These medications and instructions are outlined below. As skin tests are usually done on the same day as your first appointment, it is important that you read the list below prior to scheduling an appointment. In addition, many over the counter cold and cough medications, sleep-aids, acid reducers/ heartburn medications and eye drops contain medications that act as antihistamines and need to be stopped before skin testing. If you are not sure medications, please call our office. We need a written or verbal permission from your doctor before stopping certain medications. If the these medications are not stopped the required number of days before the appointment, you will not be able to complete the skin testing on the day of appointment. The testing may have to be rescheduled or other options may be considered.

Please allow 1-2 hours for initial visit at our office.

Stop these medications 14 days before your appointment:

Atarax®, Vistaril®, Marax (Hydroxyzine)

Stop these oral antihistamines 7-10 days before your appointment:

Alavert® (Loratadine)
Clarinex® (Desloratadine)
Claritin® (Loratadine)
Loratadine (Claritin, Alavert)

Stop these oral antihistmanines 4 days before your appointment:

Actifed
Allegra® (Fexofenadine)
Astelin® (Azelastine)
Antihist
Axid® (nizatidine)
Azatadine (Optimine, Trinalin)
Benadryl (Diphenhydramine)
Bromfed
Brompheniramine
Cabinoxamine (Rondec)
Chlopheniramine (Chlortrimeton)
Clemastine (Tavist)
Cyproheptadine (Periactin)
Deconamine
Desloratidine (Clarinex)
Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
Dimetapp
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
Diphenylpyraline (Hispril)
Doxylamine (Bendectin, Nyquil)
Drixoral
Dura-tab

Kronofed
Meclizine (Antivert)
Methdilazine HCI (Tacaryl)
Naldecone
Novafed-A
Ornade
Patanase
Pepcid® (famotidine)
Phenergan (Promethazine)
Phenindamine (Nolamine, Nolahist)
Pheniramine (Polyhistine D)
Poly-Histine-D
Promethazine HCI (Phenegan)
Pyrilamine (Kronohist, Rynatan)
Rynatan
Tagamet® (cimetidine)
Tavist
Trimeprazine (Temaril)
Trinalin
Triprolidine (Actifed)
Zantac® (ranitidine)
Zyrtec® (Cetirizine)

If you are taking an oral antihistamine that is not listed above, stop the medicine for 4 days before your appointment. If you are not sure, please contact our office.

Some antidepressants can also act as antihistamines and will also interfere with skin testing. Some examples include:

Tricyclic antidepressants: amitryptiline, Elavil, Adapin, Sinequan, Tofranil, Trazadone, etc.
Muscle relaxants - ie. Flexeril, etc.
Sleeping pills - ie. Ambien, etc.

Please inform us if you are on any antidepressants before skin testing. Do not stop antidepressants for any reason without checking with your primary care doctor first.

The following medications need not be stopped:

Cromolyn (Intal) and Nedocromil (Tilade)
Steroid Nasal Sprays (Beconase, Vancenese, Nasalide, Fluticasone, Nasacort, Beclovent, Vanceril, Aerobid, Azmacort, Pulmicort, Flovent, Qvar, Advair)
Oral Corticosteriods (Prednisone, Medrol)
Pseudoephedrine
Theophylline
SSRI antidepressants:
- paroxetine - Paxil
- sertraline - Zoloft
- fluoxetine - Prozac
- citalopram hydrobromide - Celexa
- escitalopram - Lexapro
- venlafaxine - Effexor
- Proton Pump Inhibitors:
  - prilosec
  - aciphex
  - protonix
  - prevacid
  - nexium
Singulair, Zyflo, Accolate

Please note: this is not a complete list. Call and check if you have any questions on any other medications

If you are pregnant, please contact our office.

Continue to take all your other medications as prescribed. Do not stop any medication without checking with your doctor first. We do control skin tests prior to skin testing to ensure that there are not any interfering medications at the time of testing in your system.

If you have questions, please call our office for clarification ((650) 556-9577).