- Health Care
- ENT
- Patient Handouts
- Adult
- General ENT
General ENT
Your doctor has ordered allergy testing. The allergy department will contact you to schedule yourappointment for testing. At that time, your insurance benefits will be reviewed. Instructions will be givenas to when you will need to discontinue taking certain medications. Our office tests for environmentalallergens – pollens, dust mites, molds, cat, dog, and co*ckroach. It is important that you inform thenurse if there are foods which you avoid due to reactions when eaten.
DON’Ts
- Do not take Claritin, Clarinex, Zyrtec, Xyzal, or Allegra for 7 days prior to the allergy test.
- Do not take over the counter antihistamines (Benadryl, cold & sinus medications, sleep aids suchas Tylenol PM) 7 days before the test.
- Do not take medications such as Tagamet, Pepcid, or Zantac 1 day prior to testing, as thesecontain a form of antihistamine.
- Do not take a tricyclic antidepressant medication. Please inform the allergy nurse if you do.
- These medications must be stopped 1 week prior to the allergy test with the permission of theprescribing physician. (Not all antidepressant medications are tricyclic.)
- Do not take a beta-blocker medication. Please inform the allergy nurse if you do. Betablockers are medications used for treatment of high blood pressure, migraine headaches, heartproblems, performance anxiety or glaucoma (eye drops) and must be discontinued with thepermission of the prescribing physician. For example, Metoprolol or Timolol.
- Do not wear cologne, scented body lotion or hair spray. Other allergy patients could be sensitiveto fragrances. Deodorant is fine.
- Do not use nasal antihistamine sprays 1 week prior to testing. For example, Azelastine orOlopatadine.
TAKING ANY OF THE ABOVE MEDICATIONS CAN ALTER YOUR ALLERGY TESTRESULTS, OR MAKE TESTING DANGEROUS! IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT AMEDICATION, PLEASE ASK THE NURSE PRIOR TO YOUR APPOINTMENT.
DO’s
- You may continue to use steroid nasal sprays.
- It is not necessary to be fasting or on a special diet for the test.
- You may bring a beverage and snacks on the day of the test.
On the day of your test, the results will be reviewed and you will receive a copy of your test. Allmedications can be resumed after testing (with the exception of Beta-Blockers if you plan to begin allergyimmunotherapy). After testing, you will have the option of receiving allergy injections/drops/tablets forup to 3-5 years. You will be required to have your injections given in our office with a 30 minute wait.Drops and tablets are administered daily at home.
In an effort to make this test accessible for all of our patients, we appreciate a week’s notice forcancellations.
For Questions or Emergency Care:
Please call the office at 601-984-5160. You may need to speak with the doctor on-call.
