Preparing for Your Allergy Testing
In preparing for your allergy testing, we ask that you read through the Medication Restrictions and Insurance Benefits sections below prior to your appointment.
Medication Restrictions
The following must be avoided prior to the testing appointment:
- Beta-blocker medications cannot be taken 5-7 days prior to skin test for safety reasons. Beta-blockers are often used to treat high blood pressure, glaucoma, or migraines. Please consult the physician who prescribed the medication prior to testing to see if discontinuance is permitted. Do not stop taking the beta-blocker without your prescribing physician’s approval.
- Antihistamines such as Benadryl, Allegra, Astelin, Astepro, Patanase, and Dymista must be stopped 3 days prior to the skin test. Zyrtec, Claritin, and Clarinex must be stopped 1 week prior to the test. Singular, Xyflo, and Accolate must be stopped 1 day before the skin test. Sudafed, Guaifenesin, and nasal steroid sprays are permitted.
- Tricyclic Antidepressants and Antipsychotics such as Norpramin (Desipramine), Sinequan, Adapin or Zonalon (Doxepin), Surmontil (Trimipramine), Elavil, Endep, Etrafon, Limbitrol, Vanatrip (Amitriptyline), Pamelor (Nortriptyline), Anafranil (Clomipramine), Thorazine (Chlorpromazine), Haldol (Haloperidol), Asendin (Amoxapine) and Vivactil (Protriptyline) should be stopped 7 days before skin test. Also, the antidepressants Remeron and Seroquel can interfere. Please check with your prescribing doctor before stopping any of these medications.
- No Histamine H-1 or H-2 receptor Antagonists 48 hours prior to testing. Some examples are Tagamet, Zantac, Axid, and Pepcid. Tums or Rolaids are permitted.
- No Anti-inflammatories such as Ibuprofen, aspirin, Celebrex, Vioxx, Bextra, or high doses of Naproxen, may not be taken 3 days prior to skin text.
- No miscellaneous Anti-Anxiety Agents 4-7 days prior to the skin test. Some examples are Vistaril, Atarax (Hydroxyzine), Xanax (Alprazolam), and Klonopin (Clonazepam).
- No miscellaneous agents such as Optivar, Reglan, Propulsid, Phenergan, Promethazine, Tofranil, Ketotifen, over the counter sleep aids, or any over-the-counter medications ending with PM must be withheld for 3 days prior to the skin test.
- Topical Steroid Anti-inflammatories such as creams, ointments, gels, solutions, or lotions must be withheld the day of the skin test.
Taking any of the above medications can alter your allergy test results, or make testing dangerous. Please contact us at 303-607-5263 if you have any questions regarding medications or testing. If you need to cancel or change your appointment, please call at least 24 hours prior to your appointment, or a $50 cancellation fee will be charged.
Insurance Benefits
Our experience has been that allergy testing is a covered benefit with most insurance companies. However, it is always a good idea to check with your insurance company to see how these tests are covered under your plan. The codes we use for testing are 95004 and 95024. Ask if these tests are a covered benefit and whether any co-pay, co-insurance, or deductible will apply. You might also ask if there are any exclusions under your policy.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about these instructions, please call Integrated ENT at
(303) 706-1616. Thank you for choosing our practice for your allergy needs.