What to Expect on Your First Visit

New Yorkers don't have the luxury of time.  For this reason NYC Allergy Dr. Arthur Lubitz offers 5 convenient locations for easy scheduling and offers the following suggestions to make experience with us as pleasant and efficient as possible. The following information and suggestions have been carefully constructed and should be adhered to 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.*** Your First VisitIt is suggested that all patients bring medical records of any previous allergy treatment; prior allergy testing results, blood work, written reports of X-Rays, CT scans, and MRI's along with any asthma treatment and pulmonary function tests, and current or prior allergy and/or asthma medications or prescriptions.Please do not take any medications that contain antihistamines or have antihistaminergic properties for at least 72 hours prior to your visit.  Antihistamines or products with antihistaminergic properties 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

After reviewing your history and discussing your symptoms, a skin test may be performed.  A skin test is a simple procedure; basically tiny scratches are made on the surface of your skin.  A small instrument similar to a toothpick containing scant quantities of  single allergen is used in the procedure.  If you are allergic to a substance a positive result is read from the small welt that appears at the point of contact. Occasionally,  for patients who do not react to this type of skin test, intradermal testing may be performed.  Your unique allergy profile and the severity of your allergies based on the results of the skin test.Once your allergens are determined, a treatment plan can be recommended. These treatment plans include avoidance of allergens, medications, and/or allergy shots (immunotherapy).Over the counter medications treat only your allergy symptoms.  Untreated allergies can lead to infections, asthma, in addition to the symptoms of the OTC antihistamines;  fatigue, lack of concentration.

Make an appointment today to find the trigger to your allergies, and you can get the help you need to overcome your allergies.