wie lange vor allergietest cetirizin absetzen — what can you do yourself?

Cetirizine is a second-generation antihistamine that blocks histamine receptors and can suppress skin reactions in allergy tests (prick test, intradermal test). For reliable results, cetirizine should be discontinued 3 to 7 days before testing, depending on your doctor's advice. The exact duration depends on the drug's half-life (about 8–10 hours) and how long you have been taking it; long-term use may require a longer washout. What you can do yourself: Schedule the test well in advance with your physician, do not stop cetirizine abruptly if you take it daily – discuss tapering. For seasonal allergies, you may switch to non-sedating alternatives like intranasal corticosteroids, which have less impact on skin tests. Keep a symptom diary to help your doctor. Important: Never discontinue cetirizine without medical guidance if you have severe allergies. Evidence is based on clinical guidelines (e.g., EAACI, AAAAI) and is considered strong. Caveat: Individual washout times may vary; insufficient withdrawal can lead to false-negative test results.