Whether you’re sneezing in Gosnold’s Hope Park because grass pollen went up your nose, or developing hives after petting your neighbor’s new dog, allergy symptoms are no fun. When you’re dealing with symptoms, it helps to know the cause so you can develop an effective avoidance and treatment plan. The best way to pinpoint the cause is to schedule an allergy test.
After you schedule your allergy test, we’ll provide you with pre-test instructions and information about what to expect. Depending on the type of test you take, we may ask you to stop taking antihistamines for about five days before your appointment.[1] Let’s look at two types of allergy tests and whether you can take antihistamines before them.
Blood Testing and Antihistamines
Blood testing looks for an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). Your immune system releases antibodies to fight off the allergens you encounter and keep you safe from the perceived threat. Blood tests look for elevated IgE levels after allergen exposure. Because we’re only measuring the presence of an antibody after a blood draw, you don’t need to stop taking antihistamines.
Skin Testing and Antihistamines
Skin testing looks for visual reactions to a suspected allergen. When we conduct the test, we’ll introduce a small dose of the allergen just below the skin through scratching or pricking. Next, we’ll monitor the area for about 15 minutes to see if your skin reacts, often by developing red hives.
You will need to stop taking antihistamines for about 5 days before a skin test, as the medication can prevent your body from producing the reaction we rely on to identify an allergy. Avoid any form of antihistamines, including pills, syrups, eye drops, nasal sprays and creams.
If you’re worried about allergy symptoms leading up to the test, do your best to avoid your suspected triggers. For example, you might want to save your park day for after the test if you think pollen is the cause of your symptoms.
Schedule Your Allergy Test
Don’t wait to find out what’s behind your allergy symptoms. Contact Hampton Roads ENT ~ Allergy today to schedule your allergy test.
[1] American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy. (2021, February 1). Medications to stop before allergy testing. https://www.aaoallergy.org/medications-to-stop-before-allergy-testing/