Caffeine-Free Guidelines in Preparation for a Stress Test

Caffeine will interfere with the results of your stress test. It is important to follow these instructions so that your test can be performed as scheduled, without delay.

Before the test

• Avoid all products that contain caffeine for 24 hours before the test. This includes coffee, tea, colas, other sodas, energy drinks, and chocolate. Please check the list of ingredients to see if a drink or food has caffeine.
• Avoid products labeled as “decaffeinated” or “caffeine-free” for 24 hours before the test. These products do contain very small amounts of caffeine.
• DO NOT take any medication (prescription or over-the-counter) that contains caffeine for 24 hours before the test.

Beverages to avoid that contain caffeine

• Coffee (regular or decaffeinated)
• Tea (regular or decaffeinated)
• Regular and decaffeinated carbonated beverages including colas (regular or diet)
• Energy drinks containing caffeine
• Chocolate or coffee liquors
• Chocolate milk, chocolate milkshakes, hot chocolate and chocolate drinks
• Cocoa mix, malt powder, chocolate flavoring

Instead, try these beverages:

• Fruit juices
• Lemonade
• Club soda
• Tonic water

Foods to avoid that contain caffeine

• All chocolate products including chocolate candies such as fudge, chocolate bars,
  chocolate-covered raisins, chocolate-covered nuts, brownies, cakes, eclairs
• Chocolate ice cream or chocolate pudding
• Chocolate-covered graham crackers or chocolate-flavored graham crackers

Please note: If you are not sure if a food or beverage contains caffeine, it is best not to eat or drink it.

Common over-the-counter medications containing caffeine

• Actamin Super
• Anacin
• Aspirin-Free Excedrin Caplets
• Bayer Select Maximum Strength Headache Pain Relief
• Dristan Capsules
• Excedrin
• Goody’s Extra Strength Tablets
• Goody’s Headache Powder
• Midol
• NoDoz
• Vanquish
• Vivarin

Common prescription medications containing caffeine

• Cafergot suppositories (other names: Cafertrine, Cafetrate, Migergot, Wigraine)
• Cafergot tablets (other names: Ercaf, ErgoCaff, Gotamine, Wigraine)
• Darvon Compound 65 Puvules
• Fiorinal capsules and tablets
• Fiorinal with Codeine No. 3
• Norgesic and Norgesic Forte; Norphadrine Forte
• Triaminicin with Codeine tablets

This is not a complete list of medications that contain caffeine. Check the labels or ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you have questions about caffeine in your medications.

Do not stop taking any medication without first talking with your doctor.

DO NOT drink these beverages for 24 hours before your test

• Coffee (regular or decaffeinated)
• Tea (regular or decaffeinated)
• Regular and decaffeinated carbonated beverages
• Energy drinks that contain caffeine
• Chocolate or coffee liquors
• Chocolate milk, chocolate milkshakes, hot chocolate and chocolate drinks
• Cocoa mix, malt powder and chocolate flavoring

DO NOT eat these foods for 24 hours before your test

All chocolate products, including candy, fudge, chocolate-covered snacks, brownies, cakes, eclairs, ice cream, and pudding

If you are not sure if a food or beverage contains caffeine, it is best not to eat or drink it.