Most Antihistamines are over the counter and are marketed under various names, including brand names and generic names. Ask your pharmacist for guidance or call and speak to our nursing staff if you are unsure of your medications. Some examples of medications that need to be discontinued 5 days prior to skin testing are below:
- azelastine (ASTELIN, ASTEPRO nasal sprays)
-
brompheniramine (DIMETAPP)
cetirizine (ALLERTEC, ZYRTEC, ZYRTEC-D) - chlorpheniramine (CHLOR-TRIMETON, TRIAMINIC)
- desloratadine (CLARINEX)
- diphenhydramine (BENADRYL, DIPHEDRYL)
- doxylamine (NYQUIL, ALKA-SELTZER PLUS)
- fexofenadine (ALLEGRA, ALLEGRA-D)
- hydroxyzine (ATARAX, VIST ARIL)
- loratadine (ALLERCLEAR, ALAVERT, CLARITIN, CLARITIN-D)
- levocetirizine (XYZAL)
- olaptadine (PATANASE nasal spray)
Some Over-The-Counter (OTC) cold/flu medications and sleep aids contain antihistamines such as doxylamine or diphenhydramine as one of the ingredients and should be stopped 3 days prior to your appointment.
- Examples of cold/flu medications: Tylenol Cold & Sinus, Nyquil, Advil Cold & Sinus
- Examples of sleep aids: Advil PM, Nyquil Relief, Nytol, Tylenol PM, Unisom and ZzzQuil
Some Acid-reflux medications are antihistamines and should be stopped 24 hours prior to your appointment.
- Examples of acid-reflux medications: Cimetidine (TAGAMET), Ranitidine (ZANTAC) and Famotidine (PEPCID)
Some psychiatric medications are also antihistamines and should be stopped 2 weeks prior to your appointment. You must check with the prescribing doctor prior to discontinuing any psychiatric medications.
- Examples include (but are not limited to) doxepin, imipramine, and amitriptyline.
The following list of medications is alphabetized for your reference. Some medications may not be listed. Check with your pharmacist or call our office if uncertain:
- Advil Cold & Sinus
- Advil PM
- Alavert
- Alka Seltzer Plus Products
- Allegra
- Aller-Fex
- Aller-Tec
- Amitriptyline
- Antivert
- Astelin
- Astepro
- Atarax
- Azelastine
- Benadryl
- Bromfed
- Brompheniramine
- Cetirizine
- Chlorpheniramine
- Chlor-Trimeton
- Cimetidine
- Cyproheptadine
- Clarinex
- Claritin
- Clemastine
- Desipramine
- Desloratadine
- Dimenhydrinate
- Dimetapp
- Diphenhydramine
- Doxepin
- Dramamine
- Dymista
- Fexofenadine
- Hydroxyizine
- Imipramine
- Levocetirizine
- Loratadine
- Meclizine
- Mucinex Products
- Norpramin
- Nortriptyline
- Nyquil
- Nyquil
- Nyquil Relief
- Nytol
- Nytol
- Olaptadine
- Omalizumab
- Pamelor
- Patanase
- Pediacare Products
- Pepcid
- Periactin
- Phenegan
- Pheniramine
- Promethazine
- Prudoxin
- Pyrilamine
- Quetiapine
- Ranitidine
- Risperdal
- Rynatan
- Seroquel
- Silenor
- Tagamet
- Tavist
- Triaminic Products
- Tylenol Cold & Sinus
- Tylenol PM
- Unisom
- Visteril
- Wal-Fex
- Wal-Zyr
- Xolair
- Xyzal
- Zantac
- Zonalon
- Zyprexa
- Zyrtec
- ZzzQuil