Allergy Testing Infomation - ENT East Division
TESTING: The Oregon Clinic Ear, Nose and Throat Division is providing you with this information to help you to understand your allergy testing and treatment. Initial testing should take about 1 hour. The testing consists of small intradermal injections placed on the upper arm at timed intervals. This will be uncomfortable, but should not be painful. Testing will determine both what you are allergic to, and how severe your allergies are, so we will know how strong or weak to make your treatment vial.
PREPARATION: Please wear a SHORT SLEEVED OR SLEEVELESS shirt on the day of testing. To prepare for testing, it is important that you stop taking any medications containing antihistamines seven days before testing. Antihistamines block the allergic response, and will interfere with the test results. Some examples of medications NOT to take one week prior to testing:
| Actifed |
brompheniramine |
Dayquil |
loratadine |
| Alavert |
Clarinex |
deconamine |
Nyquil |
| Allegra |
Claritin |
desloratadine |
Tavist |
| Benadryl |
chlorpheneramine |
Dimetapp |
Triaminic |
| Zyrtec |
Chlortrimeton |
Drixoral |
hydroxyzine |
| Vistaril |
fexofenadine |
Tylenol-PM |
|
If you are not sure of any other medications, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL. We do not want to waste your time and do a test that will have false results. Since this is a fairly involved procedure, we want to make it as accurate as possible. Singulair, Accolate, prednisone, and nasal steroids DO NOT interfere with your allergy test and do not need to be discontinued.
YOU CANNOT BE SAFELY TESTED IF YOU ARE TAKING BETA BLOCKING ANTIHYPERTENSIVES. ASK YOUR DOCTOR OR ALLERGY NURSE IF YOU THINK YOU ARE ON A BETA BLOCKER ANTIHYPERTENSIVE.
TREATMENT: Once your reaction to antigens has been measured, treatment can begin. If you decide to take allergy shots, a special mixture will be prepared for you, based on the allergens you reacted to in your allergy test. You will receive injections once a week, building you up from a very small dose, and increasing to what we call the “maintenance dose” which is usually 0.25 cc. It is very important that when beginning your allergy shots, you continue to get your injections on a weekly basis so your symptoms will be relieved. This may not happen overnight and each person will tolerate the injections differently. When you come in for your weekly injections, the allergy nurse will ask you about your symptoms and if you had any reaction to your last injection. Occasionally, some patients may report an increase in symptoms. Generally, this settles down when you have been taking shots for a while and your system gets used to them.