Feedback on False Positives from Drug Testing, page 11
False Positives Forum
This forum is intended to help those who Do NOT Abuse Drugs. We do NOT support the illegal use of any substance. If you have experience with false positives, share your experience. What would you tell someone about drug testing and false positives? Please remember that we do not give medical or legal advice.
Subj: Cough and cold meds
Date: 3/20/2007
A family member was just told that a drug screen came back positive for “pure” cocain—he has been fighting a severe cough and cold for weeks and has been taking numerous over the counter meds– could these meds cause the positive results?
Toni
AskDocWeb: Yes, several over-the-counter cold meds are on the list.
Subj: Amoxicillin?
Date: 3/20/2007
I had recently had to submit to drug testing for probation, a condition of that probation is that I attend Drug and alcohol counseling. I also had to subit to my employer a drug test because I had gotten a promotion. For my probation I test negative on all accounts, for my employer I tested negative on all accounts, for my drug counselor however I had tested positive for THC. The only medication that I had been taking was amoxicillin…any advice on how this could be?
Ronnie
AskDocWeb: Amoxicillin has been known to cause a false positive on drug tests.
Subj: Problems
Date: 3/22/2007
Someone I know has a son in federal prison. They use ion spectrometry devices (with swatches that are placed in the machine and heated to release ions). She went to visit her son and was tested where they rubbed her hands, clothing and tops of shoes with this cloth like swatch. The machine beeped. She is not a drug user/smuggler. She took 800mg ibuprofen and a diet pill (hydroxycut hardcore) earlier that day (5 hours earlier) and had eaten two meals. She mentioned pumping gas and she handled some money. She washed her hands and used the blow dryer machine because they had no paper towels. They would not tell her the result, but she’s heard a lot of complaints because she’s not sure they know how to properly calibrate the machine and maintain it. They also wore dirty white gloves. Any suggestions what she should do? Would drinking only water, taking no medicine and limiting herself to bland foods and cleaning everything in her possession with rubbing alcohol help? She was upset when they denied her visits. She’s visited him for over 5 years and never a problem until now.
Kristie
AskDocWeb: Hopefully that was a one-time event and next time she will be okay. If the problem was on their end there is not much she could do about it. There is no evidence that hydroxycut hardcore would cause a false positive, although in some cases Ibuprofen has caused problems.
Subj: Ibuprofen
Date: 3/23/2007
How long does ibuprofen stay in your system?
Ashley
AskDocWeb: It depends on how much you took. It has a half-life of 4.5 hours but most it will be out of your system in about 24 hours.
Subj: Drug test questions
Date: 3/26/2007
Can hemp lotion cause a positive drug test for marijuana?? Or Prenatal Vitamins?
Christina
AskDocWeb: Hemp lotion could cause a positive result, but not prenatal vitamins.
Subj: Echinecea or Airborne?
Date: 3/27/2007
Can taking echinecea cause a false positive for pot? Also, what about taking Airborne?
Thc falsepositivee
AskDocWeb: Neither have been reported to cause a false positive.
Subj: False positive for Benzodiazepines?
Date: 3/27/2007
What can cause a false positive for Benzodiazepines? It’s very important. Thank you.
Rob
AskDocWeb: Our list is far from complete but it has all the information we have to date.
Subj: Selegiline
Date: 3/27/2007
Selegiline (Eldepryl) caused a true positive in my urine test and cost me my job! It tested positive for meth! I’m still in shock!
James
AskDocWeb: The chemical name for Selegiline is: (R)-(-)- N,2 -dimethyl- N-2 -propynylphenethylamine hydrochloride.
Subj: Methadone
Date: 3/27/2007
I was given an oral swab drug screen after an injury at work. I only take Methadone through a drug treatment clinic. The test came back as a positive for cocaine and amphetamines. I know this is a false positive. Could the Methadone have caused this?
Todd
AskDocWeb: Yes.
Subj: Lost my job over this
Date: 3/29/2007
How does a person find out if the lab their company used for random testing is certified? As they say I tested positive for THC. I do take alot of prescription medications, as well as having cryosurgery uterus 2 days prior. I have told them what prescriptions I take, however they said none of them would cause a positive. Reading above says Ibuprofen can cause a false positive. I was taking 600mg every 4 hours since my surgery 2 days prior. I lost my job over this. Any suggestions for me?
Karen
AskDocWeb: Call the lab they are using and find out.
Subj: Tested positive for marijuana
Date: 3/29/2007
I took some Ibuprofen for about 4 days about 1000 mg a day and was urine tested in a random test and tested positive for marijuana. Is this enough ibuprofen to have a false positive. I don’t smoke but I am around people that do.
Harry
AskDocWeb: While Ibuprofen can cause a false positive, being around marijuana smokers (while they are smoking) can also cause a positive result.
Subj: Zithromax
Date: 3/31/2007
Can Zithromax cause a false positive for cocaine the same as amoxicillin does?
Kathy
AskDocWeb: We have not hear of Zithromax causing a false positive.
Subj: False positive for barbiturates?
Date: 4/3/2007
Can taking soma cause a false positive for barbiturates? I’ve taken soma for years along with oxycodone and clonapin for chronic pain… and thru my pain management contract, I had to do a drug screen and it came up positive for barbiturates. I’ve never taken a barbiturate in my life. My doctor suggested that maybe the soma was the cause, but he wasn’t too worried about it because everything else came up negative and barbiturates aren’t a heavily abused drug in my area. But I don’t want ANY hint of misusing drugs in my medical records… If you know anything, please let me know. Thank you,
Michele
AskDocWeb: Oxycodone is an opioid and could cause a problem with drug tests.
Subj: Over the counter drugs
Date: 4/3/2007
Is there any over the counter drugs that will cause false positives for THC and cocaine
It is me
AskDocWeb: We are listing them as they come to our attention. If you have any doubts, check with your pharmacist before you purchase.
Subj: Test positive for morphine
Date: 4/4/2007
I currently take the following meds: prilosec, estratest, nortriptyline & tramadol. I continually test positive for morphine on a 5-panel test. Can you tell me if any of these would precipitate a false positive? Thank you,
Amy
AskDocWeb: Tramadol might although it’s a synthetic analgesic compound not chemically related to opioids.
Subj: Medications that show up as Methamphetamine
Date: 4/4/2007
I tested a week ago Monday and was called this Monday with a positive for Methamphetamine. They asked a few prescription questions, and said you are positive. I asked if they wanted to know all my meds and she didn’t. Is there any medication that shows up as Methamphetamine other then the Parkinson’s drugs etc… Please reply I need to call my company.
TT
AskDocWeb: The list of drug that have been reported to cause of false positive is here, though you can ask your pharmacist privately for this information, this may be helpful.
Subj: Zoloft false positive
Date: 4/5/2007
Zoloft can cause a false positive for benzodiazipines. Pzier, who makes zoloft has 3 journal articles that support this. My RN license is in jeopardy because of this.
Carol
Subj: Multitude of other medications
Date: 4/5/2007
I tested positive for methadone and have never even seen the drug, let alone taken it. I am on a multitude of other medications for many chronic and genetic illnesses. I was taking albuterol, ortho-tricyclen, nyquil, benadryl, tylenol cold and flu, robitussin, multivitamins, ayurvedic herbs and spices, and B-complex for nerve damages–are any of these capable of giving such a test result?
Laura
AskDocWeb: Many of them. You didn’t say what you are taking for your “genetic illnesses”, but the over the counter cold medicines you have taken could have been the cause.
Subj: Pain medication
Date: 4/6/2007
Was a casual smoker, marijauna, very little doses nightly or every other night to help me sleep. I stopped for sake of my work and now am asked to test, I am 20 days completely nothing and have to go tomorrow. I am concerned that the results will turn positive due to pain medication, Vicodin, Naproxen(500mg), and some Ambien(10mg). Pain medication for bad back. Just curious on this as I believe the actual traces are not evident, just worried about medication.
Joe
AskDocWeb: Oh boy, the best you can do is to tell the person testing exactly what meds you are taking.
Read more feedback about false positives:
Read Previous –
This is page 11 – Next – Last Page 300c
If you find this page useful share it with others. All new questions will be answered by Doctors online.