Allergy Help | Wauwatosa, WI | Allergy & Asthma Centers SC

Questions About Your First Appointment?

1. How long will the appointment last?

Your first appointment may take approximately 1-1/2 to 3 hours. Please plan to arrive 15-20 minutes prior to your appointment time. If you are unable to keep this appointment, please notify our office 24 hours in advance.

2. What medications do I need to stop taking to ensure the skin test comes out accurate?

Antihistamines and any cough or cold medicines containing antihistamine are the only medications we ask you to stop taking before your first clinic visit. You should stop these before you are skin tested. If your symptoms are severe or incapacitating and you are unable to stop your antihistamine, please continue taking the antihistamine and call our office to inform a nurse.

The Following Is a List of Common Antihistamines:

Hold 1-2 days, if able:

Actifed
Antivert (medizine)
Astelin Nasal Spray
Astepro
Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
Bromfed and Bromfed PD
Clorpheniramin
Dimetapp
Deconamine SR
Kronofed A and Kronofed A Jr.
Rondec
Semprex D
Tavist (clemastine)
Triaminic

Hold 3-5 days, if able:

Alavert
Allegra
Allegra D
Atarax (hydroxyzine)
Claritin
Claritin D
Clarinex
Claritin Reditabs
fexofenadine
loratadine
Xyzal
Zyrtec

Other medications which may possibly interfere with skin testing are tricyclic antidepressants such as doxepin (Sinequan), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil) and amitriptyline. If you are taking any of these medications, the allergist should be notified before your clinic visit, and you should not discontinue use of this medication without discussing it with medical personnel at our office. Also tell the allergist if you are taking any “beta-blocker” medications including propranolol (Inderal, Inderide, InnoPranXL), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL), atenolol (Tenormin, Tenoretic), betoxolol (Betopic, Kerlone eye drops), acebutol (Sectral), pindolol (Visken), timolol (Betimol, Blocadren, Timolide, Timoptic), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), nadolol (Corgard, Corzide) or other beta-blocker medicine. Again, do not stop taking this medication before discussing it with medical personnel at our office.

3. What medications may I continue to take?

Other than antihistamines, continue to take all your medications, including all inhalers, prednisone, Singulair, Zyflo, nasal sprays, theophylline preparations, blood pressure pills and other medications.

4. What should I bring with me to the appointment?

Aside from the forms we mailed to you, please bring an updated list of the names and the strengths of the medications you are presently taking or bring the actual medications with you to your initial visit. Also bring all inhalers, spacers/holding chambers and peak flow meters to your appointment.

5. What if I have an HMO for insurance coverage?

If you have an HMO, please be sure to contact your primary doctor immediately to ensure we receive your referral by your scheduled appointment date. Please call our office 48 hours before your scheduled appointment to make sure we have received the referral. If we do not have your referral by your appointment date, you cannot be seen and must reschedule.

6. What should I expect to pay?

All co-pays are due at the time of service. You will receive a monthly statement showing any balance due and/or transactions on your account. We appreciate your prompt payment! If you are in temporary financial difficulty, please call us at (414) 281-7110. We are happy to arrange a mutually agreeable payment plan.

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