Medications to Stop Before Allergy Testing
It is important to know what medications to stop before allergy testing because some medications may alter the results of your test.
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Stop these oral antihistamines for 5 days before your appointment:
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Allegra® (Fexofenadine)
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Atarax®
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Vistaril® (Hydroxyzine)
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Zyrtec® (Cetirizine)
Stop these oral antihistamines for 3-4 days before your appointment:
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Actifed®
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Dimetapp® (Brompheniramine)
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Benadryl® (Diphenhydramine)
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Chlortrimeton® (Chlorpheniramine)
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Clarinex® (Desloratadine)
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Claritin® (Loratadine)
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Phenergan® (Promethazine)
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Tavist®
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Antihist® (Clemastine)
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Actifed®
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Aller-Chlor®
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Bromfed®
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Drixoral®
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Dura-tab®
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Novafed-A®
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Ornade®
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Poly-Histine-D®
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Trinalin® (Combination medicines)
If you are taking an oral antihistamine that is not listed stop the medicine for 3-4 days before your allergy test. If you are not sure if the medicine you are taking is an antihistamine ask your doctor.
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Stop these medications the night before your allergy skin test:
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Singulair® (montelukast)
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Accolate® (zafirlukast)
Stop these medications the morning of your appointment:
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Zyflo® (zileuton)
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Tagamet® (cimetadine)
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Zantac® (ranitidine)
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Pepcid® (famotidine)
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Axid® (nizatidine)
Sometimes antidepressants can also act as an antihistamine. Let your doctor know if you are on any antidepressants or any of the medications below before your skin testing.
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Amitryptyline (Elavil)
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Clomipramine (Anafranil)
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Doxepin (Sinequnan)
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Imipramine (Tofranil)
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Trimipramine (Surmontil)
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Amoxapine (Asendin)
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Desipramine (Nupramin)
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Nurtiptyline (Pamelor, Aventyl)
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Protriptyline (Vivactil)
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Maprotiline (Ludiomil)
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Mirtazapine (Remeron)
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Trazadone (Desyrel)
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Nefazadone (Serzone)
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PLEASE LET YOUR DOCTOR KNOW IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY TAKING A BETA BLOCKER.
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Click the link above to download a printable version of the list of medications to stop prior to allergy testing