Medications to Avoid Prior To Allergy Testing

Antihistamines to avoid prior to allergy testing:

Brand Name Medication

Generic Antihistamine Ingredient

Oral antihistamines—do NOT take for at least 5 days prior to testing:

Prescription oral antihistamines:

  • AlleRx chlorpheniramine
  • Atarax hydroxyzine
  • Clarinex desloratadine
  • Naldecon chlorpheniramine
  • Periactin ciproheptadine
  • Rynatan chlorpheniramine
  • Vistaril hydroxyzine

Non-prescription oral antihistamines:

  • Actifed chlorpheniramine
  • Alka-Seltzer Plus Sinus Allergy doxylamine
  • Allegra, Allegra D, Aller-Fex, & other brands fexofenadine
  • Allerest doxylamine
  • A.R.M Allergy relief chlorpheniramine
  • Benadryl diphenhydramine
  • Zyrtec, Zyrtec, D, Aller-Tec, & other brands cetirizine
  • Chlor-Trimeton chlorpheniramine
  • Claritin, Claritin D, Alavert, AllerClear, & other brands loratadine
  • Comtrex Multi-Symptom chlorpheniramine
  • Coricedin chlorpheniramine
  • Dimetane brompheniramine
  • Dimetapp brompheniramine
  • Drixoral dexbrompheniramine
  • Mucinex Sinus-Max Nighttime diphenhydramine
  • Sinarest chlorpheniramine
  • Sudafed PE Sinus + Allergy & Pain Relief chlorpheniramine
  • Tavist clemastine
  • Triaminic Allergy diphenhydramine
  • Tylenol Allergy Sinus/Tylenol PM diphenhydramine
  • Vicks Nyquil doxylamine
  • Xyzal levocetirizine

Nasal antihistamines—do NOT take for at least 3 days prior to testing

Nasal antihistamines:

  • Astelin azelastine
  • Astepro azelastine
  • Patanase olopatadine

Other nose sprays (i.e. intranasal corticosteroids) are okay.

NOTE: The above list may not be comprehensive therefore please double check all over-the-counter medications you are taking, especially sleep aids and night-time cough/cold medications to ensure they do not contain antihistamines. If you are uncertain, please check with us.

REMINDER: Please notify our office prior to your visit if you are currently taking any blood pressure medications (specifically beta-blockers) or are using any eye drops to treat glaucoma.

If you have any questions regarding medications or testing, please do not hesitate to call our office at 646-475-1749 or e-mail us at info@avantny.com.