Table 1.

Required medication withholding periods for medications before exercise tests.

	Factor	Withholding Period
Inhaled agents	Short acting bronchodilators (isoproterenol, isoetharine, metaproterenol, albuterol, levalbuterol, terbutaline) (e.g. Proventil® or Ventolin®)	8 hr
	Inhaled anticholinergics or combination products (e.g. Atrovent® or Combivent®)	1 week
	Long acting inhaled bronchodilators (salmeterol, formoterol) (e.g. Serevent® or Foradil®)	2 weeks
	Inhaled corticosteroid/long acting inhaled bronchodilator combination (e.g. Advair®)	4 weeks
Oral bronchodilators	Theophylline	24 hr
	Intermediate theophylline	48 hr
	Long acting theophylline	48 hr
	Standard β-agonist tablets	24 hr
	Long acting β-agonist tablets	48 hr
Corticosteroids	There is no washout for topical corticosteroids applied to skin unless they are high potency steroids	4 weeks
Other medications	Hydroxyzine, cetirizine (and other antihistamines)	72 hr
	Tiotropium bromide	72 hr
	Nasals corticosteroids	1 week
	β-blockers	1 week
	Cromolyn sodium	2 weeks
	Nedocromil	2 weeks
	Leukotriene modifiers	6 weeks
Foods	Coffee, tea, cola drinks, chocolate (caffeinated foods)	12 hr
Strenuous exercise or exposure to cold air to a level that would be expected to interfere with challenges		12 hr
Tobacco		6 hr