The following information will help you prepare for your visit and make your experience with us as pleasant and efficient as possible. If you have any questions prior to your visit, please call us at 732-747-8188.
What should you expect on your initial visit?
- Your first appointment will last approximately 1½ to 2 hours. Please allot enough time for your visit.
- Our nursing staff will welcome you and record your height, weight and vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate). If needed, a breathing test may be performed.
- You will then be seen by the doctor, who will take a complete medical history and perform a physical exam. Skin testing may be done at this initial visit.
What should you do in preparation for your first visit?
- Please complete your patient forms and arrive 15 minutes early with your insurance card and your paperwork.
- Your insurance plan may require you to obtain a referral from your primary care provider (PCP) prior to your office visit. If you are unsure whether you need a referral, please call the office, and we will be glad to assist you.
- All patients are encouraged to bring medical records of any previous allergy treatment, including prior allergy testing results, blood work, written reports of X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and pulmonary function tests, and current or prior allergy medications or prescriptions.
- We kindly ask that you discontinue any medications that contain antihistamines at least five days prior to your visit, if possible. Antihistamines can interfere with skin testing results, making them less reliable.
- Please withhold your rescue inhaler or rescue nebulizer treatments at least four hours prior to your visit, BUT ONLY if possible.
- Please avoid wearing any perfumes or colognes on all visits to our office, as they can be irritating to some of our patients with asthma.
What medications should be discontinued (if possible) at least five days prior to testing visits?
- Prescription antihistamines, such as loratadine (Claritin), fexofenadine (Allegra), levocetirizine (Xyzal), hydroxyzine (Atarax), cyproheptadine (Periactin) and meclizine (Antivert).
- Over-the-counter antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), loratadine (Claritin), cetirizine (Zyrtec), loratadine (Alavert), Chlor-Trimeton, etc.
- Over-the-counter cold and allergy medications, such as Dimetapp, Triaminic, Rynatan, etc. Check with your pharmacist, as many preparations may contain antihistamines. One clue that a medicine may not contain antihistamines is labeling that says “non-drowsy formula.”
- Nasal antihistamine sprays, such as Astelin, Astepro and Patanase.
- Certain medications such as Doxepin, imipramine (Tofranil) and phenothiazines should be discontinued for longer periods (check with us for details).
- Certain reflux medications, such as ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid), nizatidine (Axid) and cimetidine (Tagamet) should be discontinued one day prior to testing.
- Tell us if you take dopamine and clonidine, as they may impact testing.
Do not stop taking:
- Asthma medications, such as Singulair, Advair, Symbicort, Flovent, Albuterol, Ventolin, ProAir, Xopenex, Maxair, etc. (However, we ask that you withhold, only if possible, your rescue inhaler or rescue nebulizer treatments four hours prior to your visit, as we may perform pulmonary function testing.)
- Nasal steroid sprays, such as Nasonex, Flonase, Veramyst, Nasacort AQ, Rhinocort, etc.
- Allergy eye drops, such as Patanol, Pataday, Optivar, Zaditor, Elestat, etc.
- Decongestants, such as Sudafed
- Oral steroids, such as Prednisone, Medrol, Prelone, Orapred, etc.
- Antibiotics
- Any other medications for non-allergy medical illnesses
If you are unsure whether to discontinue a medication, please call us at 732-747-8188.