Instructions
We want your visit to be as quick and easy as possible. There are some simple things you can do to help:
- Don’t eat for 3 hours before your appointment (unless you’re diabetic, in which case, don’t skip any meals). Don’t drink excessive fluids for 3 hours before testing.
- Don’t wear make-up, mascara or moisturizer of any kind.
- Dress comfortably.
- Although lingering dizziness symptoms are rare after testing, you may want to arrange a driver or an alternative mode of transportation just in case, especially if you know yourself to be more prone to severe dizziness or anxiety.
- Avoid wearing contact lenses as they are prone to drying out the eye, making testing uncomfortable.
Medications
Some medications interfere with testing and can lead to inconclusive results. Even though we suggest to stop taking certain drugs, always check with your doctor before stopping prescription medication, especially if you’ve been taking it for a long time. It can be helpful to bring a list of medications with you to your appointment.
Please take care to stop taking the following medications 24 hours before testing:
| Class of drug | Common brand names (not an exhaustive list) |
| Anti-vertigo medication | SERC (betahistine), antivert, meclizine |
| Anti-nausea medication | dramamine, compazine, phenergan |
| Antihistamines & decongestants | claritin, allegra, trinalin, novafed, benadryl, zyrtec, polyhistine, rynatan, sudafed, contac |
| Diuretics AKA “Water-pills” | dyazide, hydrochlorothiazide, lasix |
| Tranquilizers | valium, librium, atarax xanax, elavil, ativan |
| Sedatives | nembutal, dalmane, placidyl, seconal |
| Pain medications | tylenol, ibuprofen, aspirin, phenobarbital, codeine, demerol, percodan, percocet |
On the day of testing, avoid alcohol, caffeine, tobacco and recreational drugs of any kind.
The following drugs should not be discontinued:
- Antibiotics
- Blood pressure pills (aside from
- diuretics)
- Heart medications
- Thyroid pills
- Diabetes pills and insulin
- Epilepsy control
- Antipsychotics
- Hormone replacement
- Birth control