Allergy-care.net

ALLERGY AND ASTHMA CARE, P.A.
12000 ELM CREEK BLVD. #200
MAPLE GROVE, MN 55369
TEL (763) 420-1010
Your appointment for a consultation has been scheduled. Please bring along the completed forms and any
medications you are presently taking. If you have been receiving allergy injections, please bring a record
of these injections. Do not reorder new injection vials from your present doctor but bring along any vials you
may currently be using. Patients under the age of 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
This evaluation may take a couple of hours; please limit family members attending the appointment.
If illness or circumstances prevent you from keeping this appointment, please notify us as early as possible
so we may extend this time to other patients. This office has a 24-hour cancellation policy for consultations.
Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
PREPARATION FOR ALLERGY TESTING

In order to obtain valid and useful skin testing results, you need to discontinue the use of certain medications
for a specific time before the skin test and your appointment.
1. All sleep aids and over the counter medications must be withheld for 2 to 5 days before your appointment.
2. Because most cough preparations contain antihistamines, these must be withheld for 2 days.
3. If you have hives, do not discontinue antihistamines. Allergy testing will probably not be done at the first
4. Some antidepressants, specifically tricyclic antidepressants (Adepin, Elavil, Nopramin, etc.) can affect skin
test results and need to be withheld for 2 weeks. Please contact us or your prescribing physician, before
discontinuing these medications.
5. Prescription nose sprays like Nasonex, Nasacort AQ, Rhinocort AQ, Flonase, Nasarel, Beconase and Singulair Tablets DO NOT interfere with testing. You do not need to stop them before your appointment. Other drugs used for asthma, such as oral prednisone and other cortisone derivatives inhaled corticosteroids
(Alvesco, Beclovent, Vanceril, Advair, Azmacort, Aerobid, Flovent, Pulmicort, QVAR), theophylline or
aminophylline preparations, terbutaline (Brethine, Bricanyl), metaproterenol (Alupent, Metaprel), and the metered
dose bronchodilators (Albuterol, Maxair, Proventil, Serevent, Ventolin, Xopenex) will not interfere with skin
testing and should be continued.
(See seperate sheet for a complete list of medications that should be withheld prior to skin testing.)
Additionally, there are no restrictions on diet. If you are unable to restrict these medications as requested or have any other questions, please call us in advance at (763) 420-1010. Thank you for your cooperation.
Medications Which Must Be Withheld Prior to Skin Testing
All the medications listed below must be held at least 48 hours prior to skin testing, and the medications denoted by a
* or + must be held longer than 48 hours. The majority of these medications are antihistamines used to treat allergy symptoms
or hives. However, the sleep aids and medications used to prevent dizziness or nausea also have antihistaminic effects. If you are
taking a tricyclic antidepressant, consult with your doctor before stopping it. These medications are listed by brand name, with the (generic name) in parentheses.
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold (chlorpheniramine)
This list is not inclusive and does not include many combination cough/cold syrups, extended release products, or ophthalmic
(eye) preparations.

Anti-nausea/Antivertigo agents:
Non-prescription sleep aides and miscellaneous:
Tylenol PM, Unisom, Nytol, Sominex, Twilite, Quita, Midol-MSF
+Tricyclic or Tetracyclic antidepressants (Contact your prescribing doctor or psychiatrist before discontinuing)

Time required to withhold medications * 5 days + 2 weeks

Source: http://www.allergy-care.net/includes/MergedPreparationAvoidMeds.pdf