About Your Visit

We know that New Yorkers are often pressed for time, and we strive to make your experience with us, as pleasant and efficient as possible. Please read the following information carefully and thoroughly in preparation for your visit.

Before Your Visit

*** Please be aware that your Insurance Plan may require you to obtain a referral from your Primary Care Provider (PCP) prior to your office visit. All referrals are the patient’s responsibility. If you are unsure if you need a referral, please call the office, and we would be glad to assist you.

During Your Visit

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, and MRI’s as well as pulmonary function tests, and current or prior allergy medications or prescriptions.

We kindly ask that you do not take any medications that contain antihistamines or have antihistaminergic properties for at least 72 hours prior to your visit. These medications can interfere with testing of allergies and render the skin test less reliable. If your symptoms are intolerable without these medications, please continue to take all your medications! The doctor will still examine you find an alternative method to pursue allergy testing. List of medication to be discontinued:

• Prescription antihistamines, such as desloratadine (Clarinex), fexofenadine (Allegra), levocetirizine (Xyzal), hydroxyzine (Atarax), or cyproheptadine (Periactin)
• Over-the-counter antihistamines (Benadryl, Claritin, Chlor-Trimeton, , Zyrtec, Alavert, etc.)
• Certain antidepressants, such as amitriptyline and doxepin (Sinequan)
• Heartburn medications, such as cimetidine (Tagamet) and ranitidine (Zantac)
• The nasal antihistamine spray azelastine (Astelin)
• Again, if your symptoms are intolerable, continue taking all your medications.

Do not stop taking:

• Cortisone nasal sprays (Flonase, Nasonex, Nasacort AQ, Rhinocort, Veramyst etc.)
• Asthma medications (Albuterol, Proair, Ventolin, Flovent, Singulair, Advair, Symbicort etc.)
• Antibiotics
• Eye drops for allergy (Patanol/Pataday, Optivar, Elestat, Zaditor, etc.)
• Decongestants (Sudafed, Sudafed PE, etc.)
• Oral steroids (Prednisone, Medrol, Prelone, Orapred, etc.)
• Any other medications for diabetes, blood pressure, birth control, arthritis, etc.
• Patient Questionnaire