Cessation Medications Commonly Used in Nuclear Cardiology That, in Consultation with Primary Care Physician, Should Be Stopped for 5 Half-Lives of the Medication
| Drug | Cessation window | Comments |
| Nitrates | 12–24 h for exercise, vasodilator, and dobutamine stress testing | 24 h of cessation should be used for long-acting nitrates; 1 h of cessation can be used for short-acting nitrates delivered in sublingual forms. For patches, cessation commences at time patch is removed |
| β-blockers | 48 h for exercise and dobutamine stress testing | 24 h is sufficient for those with shorter half-lives, but longer than 48 h may be required for longer half-lives; refer to specific half-life of β-blocker in use for potential variations |
| Calcium channel antagonists | 48 h for exercise, vasodilator, and dobutamine stress testing | 24 h is sufficient for those with shorter half-lives, but longer than 48 h may be required for longer half-lives; refer to specific half-life of calcium channel blocker in use for potential variations |
| Methylxanthine foods and caffeinated drinks | 12–24 h for vasodilator stress testing | There is unlikely to be marginal benefit beyond a 24-h cessation; however, 6 h may be sufficient for those with mild consumption; caffeine and theophylline products (coffee, tea) are of importance, but theobromine (chocolate) is less likely to have benefits from cessation |
| Methylxanthine medications | 1–5 d for vasodilator stress testing, depending on formulation | Refer to specific half-life of medication to determine appropriate cessation period; most medications are theophylline-based or caffeine-containing; thus, 24 h is adequate for most (unless in controlled-release form) |
| Dipyridamole | 12–24 h for vasodilator stress testing | Half clearance time for dipyridamole should allow cessation period of 12 h to be used if urgent |
| Digoxin | 2 wk for exercise and dobutamine stress testing | Longer time should be considered in known renal dysfunction |