Catecholamines In Urine: How To Prepare

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How To Prepare

You may be asked to avoid the following foods and fluids for 2 to 3 days before having this test:

• Caffeine, such as coffee, tea, cocoa, and chocolate
• Amines. These are found in bananas, walnuts, avocados, fava beans, cheese, beer, and red wine.
• Any foods or fluids with vanilla
• Licorice
• Aspirin

Do not use tobacco at all during the 24-hour urine collection.

Be sure to keep warm during the 24-hour urine test because being cold can increase your catecholamine levels.

Drink plenty of fluids during the 24-hour time period to avoid dehydration.

Many medicines may change the results of this test. Be sure to tell your doctor about all the nonprescription and prescription medicines you take.

Your doctor may ask you to stop certain medicines, such as blood pressure medicines, before the test. Do not take cold or allergy remedies, including aspirin, or nonprescription diet pills for 2 weeks before the test.

Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form (What is a PDF document?) .

Last updated:	July 28, 2008
Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Reviewed By:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, Alan C. Dalkin, MD - Endocrinology
Editors:	Maria Essig, Tracy Landauer