All oral allergy, cold, and sinus medications should be stopped 5 days prior to skin testing (including any over-the-counter medications and supplements).
Other classes of medications that may interfere with skin testing:
- Sleep Medications (i.e. Tylenol PM)
- Tricyclic Antidepressants
- Anti-Anxiety Medications
- Stomach Acid Medications
- Prednisone (chronic use*)
*Chronic use ≥ 10mg/day for more than 2 weeks.
If used chronically, stop 2 weeks prior to testing. Ask your MD how to taper off.
It is okay to continue:
- Asthma Inhalers
- Pseudoephedrine
- Guaifenesin
- Dextromethorphan
- Nasal Sprays (Except Astelin, Patanase, Astepro, Dymista)
- Antibiotics
- Oral Contraceptives
The following is a list of medications that needs to be stopped before skin testing in order to obtain accurate results. We understand that some of these may be difficult to stop. If you have concerns about stopping any of the following medications please discuss this with your physician’s office and let us know.
If you are on an allergy medication and do not see it on the list please call us to be sure it is okay to continue taking it.
Medications to STOP 7-14 days prior to Testing*
- Amitriptyline (Elavil)
- Clomipramine (Anafranil)
- Doxepin (Silenor)
- Imipramine (Tofranil)
- Trimipramine (Surmontil)
- Amoxapine (Asendin)
- Desipramine (Nopramin)
- Nortiptyline (Pamelor, Aventyl)
- Protriptyline (Vivactil)
- Maprotiline (Ludiomil)
- Mirtazapine (Remeron)
- Trazadone (Desyrel)
- Nefazadone (Serzone)
- Astepro/Astelin (Azelastine nasal spray)
- Dymista (Fluticasone/Azelastine nasal spray)
- Patanase (Olopatidine nasal spray)
*Please consult with your physician before stopping any of these medications if you take them on a regular basis.
Medications to STOP 5-7 days prior to Testing
- Claritin (Loratidine)
- Allegra (Fexofenadine)
- Clarinex (Desloratidine)
- Periactin (Cyproheptadine)
- Quercetin
Medications to STOP 3-4 days prior to Testing
- Actifed, Dimetapp (Brompheniramine)
- Atarax, Vistaril (Hydroxyzine)
- Benadryl (Diphenhydramine)
- Chlortrimetron (Chlorpheniramine)
- Polaramine (Dexchlorpheniramine)
- Phenergan (Promethazine)
- Vitamin C
- All allergy eye drops OTC and RX (as tolerated)
- Zyrtec (Cetirizine)
- Compazine (Prochlorperazine)
- Xyzal (Levocetirizine)
- Tylenol PM (Acetaminophen and Diphenhydramine)
- Advil PM (Ibuprofen and Diphenhydramine)
- Tavist (Clemastine)
- Nettle (herbal medication)
Medications to Stop the day before Testing
- Singulair (Montelukast)
- Zyflo (Zileuton)
- Accolate (Zafirlukast)
- Reglan (Metoclopramide)
- Prevacid (Lansoprazole)
- Zantac (Ranitidine)
- Tagamet (Cimetidine)
- Pepcid (Famotidine) and Pepcid Complete (Famotidine, Calcium, and Magnesium)
- Axid (Nizatidine)
- Protonix (Pantoprazole)
- Prilosec (Omeprazole)
- Nexium (Esomeprazole)
- Aciphex (Rabeprazole)
- Zegerid (Omeprazole and Sodium Bicarbonate)
- Dexilant (Dexlansoprazole)