Allergy Test

Must I stop allergy medications prior to allergy testing?

• Antihistamine medications must be stopped before skin prick testing and performing a food challenge. However antihistamines do not need to be stopped before blood testing.
• Short-acting antihistamines such as Piriton [Chlorpheniramine], Ucerax [Hydroxizine], Benadryl [Acrivastine] should be stopped 48 hours before skin testing.
• Long-acting antihistamines such as Claritin [Loratadine], Neoclarytin [Desloratadine], Zirtek [Cetirizine], Xyzal [Levocetirizine], Telfast [Fexofenadine] need to be stopped 5 days before testing.
• Cough preparations for children frequently contain antihistamines and you should check for this and if they are present stop the cough preparation 48 hours before the visit.
• Oral, nasal or inhaled steroid medications do not need to be stopped as they do not affect the test result.
• Anti-leukotrienes such as Singulair [Montelukast], Accolate [Zafirlukast] do not need to be stopped as they do not affect the test result.
• If in doubt, please contact the practice.