Patient Resources

What to Do Before Your Visit

For an Adenosine Stress Test:

Do not eat or drink for four hours before the test. You may have water.

No caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee, tea, or soda for 24 hours prior to testing. Avoid chocolate for 24 hours. Avoid caffeine-containing medications including Anacin and Excedrin for 24 hours.

No tobacco products, including nicotine patches, for 6 hours prior.

Stop 72 hours prior: pentoxifylline (Trental), dipyridamole (Persantine), Aggrenox, Theophylline (Theodur) and Pletal.

Take your routine medications the day of your test except for the following:

Beta-blockers: atenolol (Tenormin), labetalol (Normodyne), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal)

Nitroglycerin: isosorbide (Isordil, Imdur, ISMO), nitropatch (Nitro-dur, Nitro-Bid, Minitran)

Erectile dysfunction medications: Viagra, Cialis, Levitra

Bring a list of your medications, including over-the-counter medications and supplements. Bring a list of any medication allergies which you may have.

If you are diabetic and take insulin, ask your physician for possible dosing adjustments the day of your test.

Wear or bring comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and rubber-soled walking shoes.

You will be contacted 1-2 days prior to the test. Feel free to ask any questions at that time.

If you are pregnant or suspect that you may be pregnant, or are a nursing mother, please discuss the test with your doctor.

For a Nuclear Stress Test:

Do not eat or drink for four hours before the test. You may have water.

No caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee, tea, or soda for 24 hours prior to testing. Avoid chocolate for 24 hours. Avoid caffeine-containing medications including Anacin and Excedrin for 24 hours.

No tobacco products, including nicotine patches, for 6 hours prior.

Take your routine medications the day of your test except for the following:

Beta-blockers: atenolol (Tenormin), labetalol (Normodyne), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal)

Nitroglycerin: isosorbide (Isordil, Imdur, ISMO), nitropatch (Nitro-dur, Nitro-Bid, Minitran)

Erectile dysfunction medications: Viagra, Cialis, Levitra

Bring a list of your medications, including over-the-counter medications and supplements. Bring a list of any medication allergies which you may have.

If you are diabetic and take insulin, ask your physician for possible dosing adjustments the day of your test.

Wear or bring comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and rubber-soled walking shoes.

You will be contacted 1-2 days prior to the test. Feel free to ask any questions at that time.

If you are pregnant or suspect that you may be pregnant, or are a nursing mother, please discuss the test with your doctor.

For an Echocardiogram:

There is no specific preparation required for an echocardiogram. You do not need to fast for the test. There are no known health risks to having an echocardiogram performed.