Preparation for a Teadmill Exam or Pharmacologic Sress Study:

Instructions For Patients Undergoing Exercise Treadmill Or Pharmacologic Provocation Stress Testing With Myocardial Perfusion Imaging:

You have been scheduled to have an exercise treadmill or pharmacologic provocation stress test with myocardial perfusion imaging performed at the Scranton Heart Institute Cardiac Imaging Center on xxx.

A radiopharmaceutical is used during this study for cardiac imaging. A radiopharmaceutical is an imaging agent that is special-ordered and prepared specifically for you several hours before its use. This material undergoes spontaneous radioactive decay, and must be used within the specific time frame for which it is designated. Once ordered, your dose cannot be used for anyone else. You must notify our office at-least 24-hours in advance if you are unable to keep this appointment, so that there is adequate time to cancel your radiopharmaceutical doses.

1. DO NOT EAT for 6 hours prior to your arrival time. You may have clear liquids and your regular medications on the morning of your study. Diabetic patients are allowed to have toast and juice in small amounts. It is recommended (for diabetic patients) that you do not take your morning oral diabetic medications on the day of your procedure. You should cut the dose of insulin that you usually take in the morning in half on the day of your procedure.
    

2. You must avoid tea, coffee, and food or other beverages that contain caffeine (certain soft drinks, energy drinks) for 24-hours prior to your procedure. Decaf coffee has a reduced amount of caffeine – but is usually not caffeine-free, and therefore is not recommended. Caffeine is also present in chocolate, and therefore, foods containing chocolate need to also be avoided. These products may interfere with the accurate results of your study.
    

3. Caffeine-containing medications should not be taken for at-least 24-hour prior to your procedure. These medications include: diet supplements, Anacin, Arthriten, BC Fast Pain Relief/Arthritis, Caffedrine, Cope, Coryban-D, Dristan, Excedrin, Midol, Migrol, No-Doze, Triaminicin, Vanquish, Vivarin, Cafergot, Esgic, Fiorinal, Fioricet, Norgesic, Synalgos-DC, and Wigraine.
    

4. Medications containing dipyridamole (Persantine, Aggrenox), and medications containing theophylline need to be discontinued for 24-hour prior to your study.
    

5. If you have breathing problems (COPD, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, or wheezing), or if you take specific medications for lung disease (inhalers, theophylline-containing medications, steroids); please call our office prior to your study and inform our staff. Certain patients with these conditions or medications may not be able to undergo pharmacologic (medication-induced) provocation testing with adenosine or persantine. Under these conditions, we may need to change the type of test that you are to receive.
    

6. If you take any medications that can reduce your heart rate (beta-blockers or verapamil), these medications will need to be discontinued at-least 24-hours in advance of your study. Beta-blockers include: metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), timolol (Blocadren, Betimol, Cosopt, Timoptic, Timolide), propranolol (Inderal, Innopran), nadolol (Corgard), atenolol (Tenormin), labetalol (Trandate, Normodyne), levobunolol (Betagan), pindolol (Visken), betaxolol (Betoptic, Kerlone), carteolol, carvedilol (Coreg), and metipranolol (Optipranolol). Verapamil products include: Calan, Covera, Isoptin, and Verelan.
    

7. Bring in an updated complete list of your medication with you, so that any potential medication conflicts or interactions can be identified and compensated for.
    

8. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Wear loose fitting slacks or shorts, a shirt or blouse with buttons in front, sneakers, or walking shoes. No metal snaps or buttons on shirt or blouse. No metal under-wire bras.
    

9. Shower or bathe on the day of the test. Do not apply any lotions, powders, or oils to your body on the day of your study. If you have any physical limitations or injuries, please inform our office at-least 48-hours in advance.
    

10. Plan to allow at-least 4-hours of your time for your test to be completed.
     

11. Bring a bottle of water and a light snack along with you. You will be allowed to eat and drink after your initial set of images (when OK’d by the nuclear technician).
     

12. If your insurance requires a referral, you must bring it with you on the day of your study.