False Positives on Drug Tests, page 137
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: Positive for Benzos?
Date: 6/6/2011
Hello! I am in recovery & loving life. Unfortunatly I am on probation. I’ve never had an issue with any of my urines. For the first time on Fri I went in & took an instant. I was at the time taking SMZ/TMP DS 800 mg. AKA Bactrim & Phenazopyrid 200 mg. AKA Pyridium for a U.T.I. I showed a positive for Benzos? Could those have caused that positive? I did not use any drugs! Thank you.
El
AskDocWeb: While Bactrim is not on the list, several people have reported getting false positives while using it. Urine tests do seem to have a problem when it comes to antibiotics. If you can find out what test they used, the name and manufacturer, you may be able find a list of cross-reactions on their website. Cross reactants are the substances that show up as false positives.
Subj: Pre-employment drug screening
Date: 6/6/2011
I recently took and urine test for preemployment. I failed. There is no reason I should have failed I have smoke in years. I just found out I have been suffering from a severe kidney infection and actually had the infection and was in great pain when I gave the sample. I have also been taking pain killers for my back. I take lithium and xanax on a regular basis and have for over 14 years but yet didn’t test positive for any of these. I have read kidney infection as well as ibuprofen can create a false positive. They have offered to let me retest for 250 but I can not afford that hence the job search. I still think preemployment drug screening however is unconstitutional.
Tammy
Subj: How long does ephedrine stay in the system?
Date: 6/6/2011
Hi, I am going to take a hair analysis drug test and I am worried that the ephedrine I used 6 weeks ago for 3 weeks will cause me to test positive for illegal drug use. Will they be able to tell the difference?
Elle
AskDocWeb: Ephedrine may show up as amphetamine on a hair test but the GC/MS confirmation test can tell the difference. On urine tests ephedrine has shown up as false positives for amphetamines, meth, and ecstasy. When used alone ephedrine has a half-life of 3 to 6 hours, which means that it clears the bloodstream within a couple days. However, when ephedrine products are combined with other stimulants the half-life is extended. A high acid level or pH in the body’s urine can also extend the half-life by 3 to 4 times normal. Further complicating the picture is that the repeated use of ephedrine can cause it to build up in the body increasing concentration levels.
Subj: Serax in my system
Date: 6/7/2011
I am in Pain Management and had a urine test performed last month. I take Oxycodone and Losartan. At my appointment this month they told me that my test showed I had Serax in my system. Before then I had never even heard of that before. What would cause that to show up?
Kevin
AskDocWeb: Serax is a brand name of the generic drug oxazepam. Other brand names include Alepam, Medopam, Murelax, Noripam, Opamox, Ox-Pam, Purata, and Serepax. Oxazepam is a benzodiazepine and there are dozens of things that might cause a false positive for benzodiazepine. See the big list.
Subj: Can these cause false positive for THC or other drugs?
Date: 6/7/2011
i just started taking truvada and isentress, i also take prozac, seroquel, singulair, water pill, vitamin B – C – D – Calcium supplements and milk thistle, are any of these know to cause a false positive for THC or any other drugs?
Christine
AskDocWeb: Prozac (Fluoxetine) has been reported to show up on urine tests as a false positive for amphetamines and LSD, and Seroquel as a false positive for amphetamines but neither for THC.
Truvada and Isentress have not been reported to show up on urine drug screens for drugs of abuse.
Subj: Can pain meds cause a false positive?
Date: 6/8/2011
I was in asever motorcycle accident and had to be lifeflighted. The other driver was cited and I was not. 3 1/2 hours after accident the hospital stated that my alcohol level was .12. I had one drink approx. 3 hours before accident. Broke my back and left leg had large open wounds with profuse bleeding. Was given several pain meds intravenously and had the wounds cleaned. Would any of these give a false positive? Was not cited.
Robert
AskDocWeb: Sorry to hear about your accident Robert. Many pain meds show up on urine tests. However, in order to answer your question we need to know the names of the medications that you were given for pain.
Subj: Positive for amphetamines
Date: 6/8/2011
I have been discharged from pain management, due to 3 urine screens that were positive for amphetamines. My doctor insisted that I am using a prescription called Aderral, but I have NEVER! He told me that in December, level was over 8,000. In April, level was over 1,300. In May, level was over 1,100. I take MY prescriptions, only. I WAS taking Walgreens version of Sudafed, but when my doctor told me to stop- I did. He suggested that I get an allergy medication from my PCP. I called my pharmacy and asked if any of my meds could cause a false positive, and was told ‘doubtful’.
I need to know WHAT caused such levels of amphetamines in my urine, and how to dispute my recent discharge. Prescriptions: selenium sulfide shampoo 1%(daily), betamethasone dipropionate usp ointment .05%(twice/day), clobetasol propionate shampoo .05%(2X/wk), fluticasone propionate lotion .05%(as needed), tacrolimus ointment .1%(as needed), percocet 10/325(4X/day), flexiril 10mg(2X/day), and ibuprofen 600mg(2X/day).
Pain management is due to an injury I suffered in 1998. Surgery is not an option. Osteopathic manipulations help, but needed frequently. I use a tens unit regularly, along with daily PT at home. I cant think of anything odd introduced to my system, except for DYE during MRI(thyroid nodules), DYE & SALINE for CT SCAN(lower abdomen), CLEANSER & SEDATIVE/PAIN med for colonoscopy, PREDNISONE & INHALER(laryngitis) used briefly this spring, and Rondec cough syrup(took w/prednisone & inhaler). Please respond with any/all thoughts, as to what’s causing my urine screens to be positive for amphetamines. Again, levels were approx 8,000/ 1,300/ and 1,100.
Cindy
AskDocWeb: You might start by checking the ingredients in your inhaler against the big list. Of the products you list only the inhalers have been reported to cause a false positive for amphetamines. Typically the only evidence of a false positive that a pain management clinic will accept is a confirmation test, usually a GC/MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) test. That is, if they will allow additional testing at all. If you are convinced that your test result was a false positive then it may be worth offering to pay for it out of your own pocket. However, they may or may not allow you to pay for the additional testing. That varies from state to state and sometimes from one clinic to the next.
Subj: Oral test positive for cocaine
Date: 6/8/2011
I am currently subject to random drug screening because my child is in an outpatient treatment program after being charged with MIP. The tests are oral not urine. I tested positive for cocaine and do not use or take any of the medications listed. My understanding is this list only applies to urine screening. Are there any causes for false positive for cocaine in an oral swab test? I have 6 of the 10 symptoms for kidney disease but again, I think that only gives false positives in urine. Please help.
Dana
AskDocWeb: Sorry Dana we have not researched the oral tests. The tests we did read about were better than 99% accurate.
Subj: Drug Court denies a mix up
Date: 6/8/2011
I have gotten a positive urine tox for marijuana and I never smoked or handled it in my life. The next day tox however was negative. But of course the Drug Court had an explanation for that and everything else. I had test taken for 4 years and I always was negative for everything. How did this happen? Drug Court denies a mix up of course its all my fault according to them and they want me to admit that I was using Marijuana please advise.
Sandy
AskDocWeb: It sounds like you may need legal advice but that is beyond the scope of this website. We are not lawyers and do not give legal advice. Of course you could ask an 
online lawyer.
Subj: Claritin
Date: 6/11/2011
A few years ago, I tested positive for amphetamines after being prescribed Claritin for an ear infection. Was kicked out of an apartment program, ended up on the streets because I refused to admit I was using drugs, and lost my Medicaid benefits.
Ray
AskDocWeb: Claritin is one of the brand names of the generic drug loratadine, which is also sold under the brand names Claritin, Agistam®, Alavert®, Claritin Reditab®, Claritin Hives Relief, Clear-Atadine®, Clear-Atadine Children’s®, Loratadine Reditab®, Ohm Allergy Relief®, Tavist® Non-Sedating, Wal-itin®, and Dimetapp ND®. According to the book Ur-Ine Trouble 
it may show up as amphetamine on a urine drug test.
Subj: My pee showed Amphetamines
Date: 6/11/2011
I get random drug screens and i am on suboxne and seriquil and ive been takin stacker 2 energy shots and my pee showed up for Amphetamines i dont KNOW why..can n e one tell me? and they are sending it to the lab for confermation wat wILL happen?
Kristyn
AskDocWeb: If your test result was a false positive then the confirmation test will come back negative or clean.
Subj: One inaccurate test and he could serve five years
Date: 6/12/2011
My husband is does not take any illegal drugs in years and he has committed himself to not drinking anymore. He was given a lenghty complicated probation where he will have to take about 500 drug tests. He has to take at least two a week at the probation office. We have read up on false positives mainly in the book urine trouble and we are committed to eliminating poppy seeds, tonic water, most vitamins, and over the counters from his diet. He takes a men’s multi and vitamin C. He may be put on prescription sedatives which we let his Probation Officer know about. My question is with so many tests is he still destined to fail.. 🙁 One inaccurate test and he could serve five years. Please let me know what his chances are if he is clean and careful to avoid false positives.
Stressed out
AskDocWeb: If he is clean and careful he likely has a good chance of getting through the probation without a false positive. Educating yourself about the drug testing procedures can avoid some nasty surprises and go a long way in giving you some peace of mind. You may also want to find out what their policy is regarding false positives and what they do about confirming test results. If you have any problems let us know. Good luck.
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