Feedback on False Positives from Drug Testing, page 118
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: False positive on a THC test
Date: 2/1/2011
How much ibuprofen is required to show a false positive on a THC test? I failed a marijuana drug test, when I presented my advil/ibuprofen prescription I was told that it wouldn’t cause the false positive.
Arthur
AskDocWeb: That would vary depending on which urine test is used. It appears that there are no current standards for the accuracy and sensitivity of urine tests. Also it would take more ibuprofen for a person weighing 290 pounds than it would for someone weighing 120 pounds.
It is possible that someone has come out with a urine test that is 100% accurate but we have yet to see one. Feel free to send the name of the urine test and manufacturer that makes that claim and we will check it out.
If you believe the test result was a false positive then get a confirmation test to check it out.
Subj: False Positives Equal False Justice
Date: 2/1/2011
I would be happy to send you my report: False Positives Equal False Justice to include in your refernces.
John
AskDocWeb: Okay John, send it and if it meets our criteria for a good reference it will be added.
Subj: My new doctor is squirrelly
Date: 2/1/2011
My doctor new is totally squirrelly. She said I tested positive for temazepam, and I said so what, you know I have Valuim from my old doctor, and the Flexeril wasn’t working, and It was a weekend, so I just used the Valium. She says she will cut off my Percocet [ I have been disabled 10 years with Fibro and multiple ortho injuries ] if it happens again, and will send me to a pain specialist if I won’t take Cymbalta. I asked her why the lab didn’t say Diazepam, and why Temazepam specifically. Can Temazepam be a metabolite of Diazepam when they make such a discrete test? I told the little cow to call the cops if she thought I had something I wasn’t supposed to have, but she refused, but is still bullying me. She wants me to retest before I know I won’t clear, and said she will cut off my Percocet, which I cannot walk without. I was a nurse for 30 years, and have never abused my meds, and never used illegal drugs. What can I do? I need help. She didn’t even know Temazepam is Restoril. I think she’s a quack. I live on an Island off the West Coast and my options are limited.
Mary
AskDocWeb: Just because she is not aware of all the brand names of a particular drug or disagrees with you does not mean that she is a quack. Your 30 years of nursing experience probably puts you ahead of her in several areas so maybe you could make an allowance for her lack of experience. According to one government website (Drugs and Human Performance FACT SHEETS – Diazepam), Diazepam is metabolized to nordiazepam which is an active metabolite. Temazepam and oxazepam are minor active metabolites of diazepam.
Temazepam is a sedative ( benzodiazepine ) used primarily as a sleeping pill. It is sold under the brand names of Razepam, Restoril, and Temaz.
Subj: Dirty for meth
Date: 2/1/2011
I am on methadone for pain, lisinopril for high blood pressure and just got into a car accident so was prescribed methocarbamol and just pissed dirty for meth which I have never done is it possible that any of these things together could have caused a false positive? Please any help would be great.
Todd
AskDocWeb: None of those have been reported to cause a false positive for meth however, sometimes the test results are just wrong without an obvious reason. That is why the confirmation test was developed, to eliminate the false positives.
Subj: Positive for THC
Date: 2/1/2011
I need to know if it is possible for someone to have a false positive on a drug test for THC, if they are previous THC user. They had already had a few negative drug screens and then out of the blue showed up positive on two tests and then 3 days later was negative again. This person had been sick and running a fever for at least 2 weeks, which was during the same time when these tests showed up positive. I just need to know if the fever and sweating could cause him to show up positive again after being negative. I also need to know if it is possible to have a THC level of over 400 ng/ml and then 3 days later be negative. My understanding is that this it is impossible to be negative on a THC drug screen only 3 days later after a positive drug screen showing this high of a level. I just need some ammunition with the courts, because they are saying that he could be sanctioned from this and sent to jail or prison. I know for a fact that he has not been smoking THC in at least a month or a little longer.
Jennifer
AskDocWeb: It is our understanding that a single marijuana joint could produce a THC level of 400 ng/ml or higher. Although THC is a fat-soluble molecule that is absorbed by fat cells, it is hard to believe that high a level could be caused by fever and sweating. There are antidotal reports of people testing clean, they start exercising and have a test come back dirty with THC because it is released from fat cells. However, those reports were from people engaged in heavy physical exercise, not just sweating.
Subj: False positive for suboxone?
Date: 2/1/2011
What could cause a false positive for suboxone? My daughter tested positive on a swab test …after being clean of drugs for 13 months. They are sending it out for the 3rd time to have it broken down. She swears she did not take it. Could mean prison for her if it comes back positive again.
Marti
AskDocWeb: Sorry Marti, the information here applies only to urine drug testing. There is a single strip urine drug test for suboxone but that is a separate test. The urine test for suboxone is 96% accurate, which means that 4 results out of every 100 are false. So far we have been unable to find out what causes those false results.
Subj: Messed up
Date: 2/2/2011
These drugs test are so messed up it got alot to do how cheep they are made, and alot to do with the one reading the test, most have no traning to read the test. And how old they are.
Randy
Subj: Positive for amphetamines
Date: 2/2/2011
I have acid reflux and take Zantac to help with my heartburn. Could that be the reason I came up positive for amphetamines when I don’t abuse any illegal or prescription drugs? This could ruin my entire career and future and I need to figure out what could be the cause. Thank you.
Dan
AskDocWeb: Yes, Zantac was identified as one of the substances that sometimes shows up as a false positive for amphetamines (Reference 30). Since your career is at stake it is worth getting a GC/MS confirmation test from an independent lab, even if you have to pay for it out of pocket. Of course that is only true if it really is a false positive.
Subj: Meth on my drug screens
Date: 2/2/2011
I TAKE 5 HR ENERGY SHOTS, I ALSO TAKE LEXAPRO, SERAQUIL CLONAPIN HYDROCODONE 5/500, BUT AM COMING UP WITH METH ON MY DRUG SCREENS. COULD YOU SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS FOR ME? I ALSO TAKE BENADRYL.
Dave
AskDocWeb: Sorry Dave, none of those have been reported to show up as meth on a urine drug screen. Of course if it is a false positive then getting a confirmation test will show that.
Subj: Positive for Benzodiazepines
Date: 2/3/2011
I have never taken Benzodiazepines but test positives for it. The only thing I have taken is suboxone. Can you help me?
Lee
AskDocWeb: If you believe that your positive test was a false positive then get a GC/MS confirmation test at an independent laboratory. Some sleeping pills and most anti-anxiety medications have shown up as a false positive for benzodiazepines. The only drugs that have been identified as showing up on urine drug screens as false positive for benzodiazepines are Benadryl (Diphenhydramine), Daypro, Oxaprozin, Sertraline, and Zoloft. The herb valerian root and extract has also caused positives for benzodiazepines.
Subj: Testing positive for benzos
Date: 2/3/2011
I have been testing positive for benzos on my parole urine tests. if i fail one more time im going to get locked up. i do not take any benzos. the only things that i take are suboxone, excedrin, and ibeprophrin. can you please tell me why this might be happening and possibly give me a list of everything that i can test positive for benzos. this would be of great help. my freedom depends on it. thanks.
Joshua
AskDocWeb: We suggest you talk with the doctor that prescribes your medication about this in order to avoid future problems. Also read the answer to the post above.
Subj: I STOOD MY GROUND
Date: 2/3/2011
Thanks to this site I was able to prove that my medicine (Ranitidine) that I was taking for yrs. was causing me to have a false/positive for Amphetamines. They took my children and put us through the ringer. I STOOD MY GROUNDS AND DIDN’T BACK DOWN! Lady from DHR gave me this site.
Karyn
AskDocWeb: We are so glad that things worked out well for you, Karyn. Congratulations, and kudos for standing up for yourself and your family.
Subj: Mogadon & Tramal
Date: 2/3/2011
Please Help, I will have a urine drug screen test tomorrow for Mogadon & Tramal only. Last time I took tramal was 9 days ago, last time I took mogadon was 4 days ago, will it show?
Sal
AskDocWeb: The Tramal (Ultram) shouldn’t be a problem because its half-life is only about 7 hours. However, Mogadon (Nitrazepam) is a benzodiazepine with a half-life of 40 hours so that will likely show up.
Subj: Tested positive for barbiturates
Date: 2/3/2011
Hi, I’ve been in the methadone program for about 2 years now and I’ve remained cleaned…actually as of right now I get 13 take homes. but I’m worried because for some reason my drug screen tested positive for barbiturates. I recently as perscribed these two medications…ic metoclopramide “Reglan” and ic famotidine “Pepcid”…can these cause the results that I got??? Please help me out. I need to know ASAP or I will more than likely lose the take homes that I worked so hard to get. thank you very much.
Craig
AskDocWeb: Pepcid is not known to cause false positives on drug tests. We found one reference in the book, Principles of Addiction Medicine By Richard K. Et El, about false-positives on immunoassay tests that involved metoclopramide but that was for LSD.
By the way, Metoclopramide has also been known to cause false positives on pregnancy tests.
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