1201 Sam Bass Road
4204 E. Stan Schlueter Loop
6600 S. Mopac Expwy,
Round Rock, TX 78681
Killeen, TX 76542
Austin, TX 78749
(512) 388-1861 Ph.
(254) 690-2800 Ph.
(512) 892-3336
(512) 388-0373 Fax
(254) 690-5401 Fax
(512) 892-3338
Suite 2180
Ph.
Fax
www.allergycentex.com
Allergy Skin Testing
Allergy skin testing is one of the main diagnostic tools of an Allergist/Immunoligist. The symptoms due to
allergies can manifest in many ways. In addition to the runny nose, sore throat, tearing, and sinus headaches
that are usually thought of as the symptoms of allergies, allergies can greatly contribute to other diseases
and illnesses as well.
Allergies are associated with health issues such as sleep problems, depression, ADD and ADHD, migraine
headaches, irritable bowel, hypertension, and has an especially high correlation with asthma.
Skin testing provides the Allergist with a very specific and sensitive test to diagnosis which airbore allergens
are involved in your symptoms. Our Allergists are testing you for a variety of pollens and environmental
allergens specific for this region of Texas. These tested allergens will include trees, grasses, weeds, mold,
dust mites, cat, dog, and other environmentals.
There are two procedures performed during a skin test. The first procedure is a prick/scratch test where a
prick/scratch device that has a small amount of allergen extract on it is used to prick the skin on your back.
The second procedure is called an intradermal, which is performed on your arms. Intradermals are an
injection of a small amount of allergen directly beneath the skin, and are usually done if you test negative to
an allergen on the prick test. Each portion of the test takes approximately 30 minutes.
Preparation Instructions for Allergy Skin Testing
To ensure your test results are accurate it is important that you discontinue certain medications before
testing. On the left in bold is the chemical name for each drug. To the right are name brand and generic
names in which that the drug may be found. There are too many drugs that contain antihistamine to list each
one here, but this should be an exhaustive list of the antihistamines that you are to discontinue prior to skin
testing.
Below is a list of medications that need to be discontinued.
Discontinue
3 weeks prior to testing:
Amitriptyline: Elavil, Tryptanol, Endep, Elatrol, Tryptizol, Trepiline, Laroxyl
Amoxaine: Asendin, Asendis, Defanyl, Demolox, Moxadil
Doxepin: Aponal, Adapine, Sinquan, Sinequan, Zonalon, Xepin, Silenor
Imipramine: Tofranil, Antideprin, Deprenil, Deprimin, Deprinol, Depsonil, Dynaprin, Eupramin, Imipramil,
Irmin, Janimine, Melipramin, Surplix
Nortriptyline: Sensoval, Aventyl, Pamelor, Allegron, Nortrilen
Protriptyline: Vivactil
Discontinue
10 to 14 days prior to testing:
Azelastine: Astelin
Hydroxyzine: Vistaril, Atarax, Rezine, Equipose, Masmoran, Paxistil, Vistaril Pamoate, Alamon, Durrax,
Tran-Q, Orgtrax, Quiess, Vistaril Parenteral, Tranquizine
Olopatadine: Patanase
Discontinue
3 days prior to testing:
All OTC drugs that say “PM”, “Bed time”, “Night time”
All OTC drugs that say “Sinus”, “Cold”, “Allergy”
All Eye Drops that Contain Antihistamine – Product may mention reducing redness
Antazoline: Albalon-A, Antazoline-V, Vasocon-A (Eye Drops)
1201 Sam Bass Road
4204 E. Stan Schlueter Loop
6600 S. Mopac Expwy,
Round Rock, TX 78681
Killeen, TX 76542
Austin, TX 78749
(512) 388-1861 Ph.
(254) 690-2800 Ph.
(512) 892-3336
(512) 388-0373 Fax
(254) 690-5401 Fax
(512) 892-3338
Suite 2180
Ph.
Fax
www.allergycentex.com
Azatadine: Trinalin Repetabs
Bromazine/Bromodiphenhydramine: Ambenyl, Amgenal
Bromopheniramine: Dimetapp, generic Dimetapp medications
Carbinoxamine: Clistin, Palgic, in many liquid medications
Cetirizine: Zyrtec, Any Zyrtec related product, Any generic Zyrtec product
Chlorphenamine: Chlor-Trimeton, in many allergy medications, and combination allergy-cold medications
(i.e. Tylenol Cold/Allergy, etc), Tussionex (prescription hydrocodone cough medication)
Chlorphenoxamine
Clemastine: Tavist, generic Tavist medications
Cyclizine: Marzine, Marezine, Emoquil
Cyproheptadine: Periactin
Desloratadine: Clarinex
Dexbrompheniramine: OTC, often found in combination pain reliever/allergy medications
Dexchlorpheniramine: May be used in combination medications or as an antihistamine by itself
Dimetindene: Vibrocil
Diphenhydramine: All Bendaryl products, Nytol, generic benadryl products, and OTC generic sleeping pill
products
Doxylamine: Often found in “Night-time” cough/cold/allergy medications, also found in OTC sleeping pills
Ebastine: Kestine, Evastin, Ebastel, Aleva
Emedastine: Emadine (Eye Drop)
Epinastine: Elestat (Eye Drop)
Fexofenadine: All Allegra products
Ketotifen: Zaditor, Alaway (Both are Eye Drops)
Levocetirizine: Xyzal
Loratadine: All Claritin products
Meclizine: Bonine, Antivert, Dramamine II, Postafen (All used for for motion sickness), generic versions of
the same
Olopatadine: Pataday (Eye Drop)
Pheniramine: Opcon-A, Naphcon-A (Both Eye Drops), Often used in combo pain/cold/allergy medications,
possibily in night-time pain/cough/cold/allergy medications because it causes drowsiness
Phenyltoloxamine: Often mixed with acetaminophen, codeine, and hydrocodone in pain/cough
medications, OTC when with acetaminophen, Prescription when with codeine or hydrocodone
Promethazine: Phenergan
Talastine: Aganon, Ahanon
Discontinue
24 hours prior to testing:
Cimetidine: Tagamet
Ranitidine: Zantac
Famotidine: Pepcid
Vitamin C: Doses higher than 500 mg per day
*Asthmatic Patients may continue your asthma medications to include your inhalers and
maintenance medications