What to expect at your first visit

We are looking forward to meeting you!

The day of your first visit your physician will take a complete medical history and will perform a physical exam. You will most likely be skin tested at this visit to a variety of common environmental and seasonal allergens. Food allergy and insect allergy testing will be performed if needed. You will also complete a pulmonary function test that is done by blowing into a tube attached to a computer. When your testing is complete, you will have a review session with your doctor.

During your visit, skin tests may be applied to aid us in the diagnosis of your suspected allergy (food allergy, insect allergy, or allergic rhinitis--environmental allergies or hay fever). This test is quickly performed, is very well tolerated by even small children, and allows us to determine your allergies in one clinic visit. However, in order to be able to perform a skin test, you must stop your antihistamines prior to your appointment. This includes:

Antihistamines to be stopped
7-14 days prior to your appointment:
• Cetirizine (Zyrtec, Zyrtec D)
• Desloratadine (Clarinex)
• Doxepin (Sinequan)
• Fexafenadine) Allegra, Allegra
• Loratadine (Claritin, Claritin D, Alavert)

Antihistamines should be stopped
5-7 days prior to your appointment:
• Brompheniramine (Actifed, Atrohist, Dimetapp, Drixoral)
• Chlopheniramine (Chlortrimeton, Deconamine, Kronofed A, Novafed A)
• Clemastine (Tavist, Antihist)
• Cyproheptadine (Periactin)
• Dexchlorpheniramine (Polaramine)
• Diphenhydramine (Allernix, Benadryl, Nytol)
• Doxylamine (Bendectin, Nyquil)
• Hydroxyzine (Atarax, Marax, Vistaril)
• Promethazine (Phenergan)

Note: Antihistamines are also found in many over the counter medications, including Tylenol Allergy, Actifed Cold and Allergy, Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold with Cough Formula, and many others. Make sure you read check the ingredients carefully and stop those containing antihistamines 5-7 days prior to the appointment.

Nose sprays and eye drops to stop
5 days prior to your appointment:
• Azelastine (Astelin, Optivar)
• Olapatadine (Pataday, Patanase)

Medications to stop
3 days prior to appointment:
Cimitidine (Tagamet)
Famotidine (Pepcid)
Nizatidine (Axid)
Ranitidine (Zantac)

There is no need to stop Flonase, Nasonex, Nasacort, Rhinocort, and Veramyst as these medications will not affect the skin test.

DO NOT STOP YOUR ASTHMA MEDICATIONS! This would include:
Inhalers such as Advair, Asmanex, Azmacort Flovent, Pulmicort, Symbicort, and QVAR
Pills such as Singulair (Monteleukast), Zyflo, Theophylline or steroids such as Medrol and Prednisone.

Please bring your insurance card, your referral, a list of your current medications
and any lab or x-ray reports. Please also print out and complete
the intake forms (under the "forms" tab) and bring them to your appointment.

Please plan to spend 2 –3 hours at our office the day of your first visit.
Make sure you eat before you come if you will be arriving at a mealtime

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