Questions about False Positives in Drug Testing, page 203

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 this forum is not for medical or legal advice.

How can I prove this?
Date: 5/22/2012
I am on a methadone program. I’ve been on it for over 3 years now with no dirty UA’s. In the last 6 months, I had 1 positive for marijuana and in March a positive for cocaine. I DO NOT USE ANY DRUGS. I rarely even drink. I am upset beyond words. I pride myself on my clean UA’s, because I wanted help and got help on my own. I want my hair to be tested, because the lab no longer has my UA sample. I know I didn’t do drugs on either of these occasions. I was taking Chantix during the false cocaine one, but that wouldn’t cause a positive for that drug, right? I think the lab or clinic messed up my UA. How can I prove this? I want to hire a lawyer, because I know what I’ve done, and haven’t done. Please, any advice would help!

Teresa

AskDocWeb: You are correct about Chantix. That does not show up on urine tests for drugs of abuse. Many lawyers offer the first half hour of consultation free so we suggest you contact several. Often this can be done by phone. Writing up a description of what happened, what you want to accomplish, and your questions may help save consultation time. If you keep notes you’ll be able to compare prices and approaches. Also it is likely that your time is limited in taking legal action because the period of time that urine samples are kept by various drug testing facilities varies. Good luck!

UA came back with morphine
Date: 5/22/2012
I have been on lortab for 3 years. I also take diaezpam sometimes for anexity. I just had a ua come back with morphine in my system the dr said dialauded is like morphine. I have never heard of it nor taken it how is this possiable?

Kelly

AskDocWeb: Another name for Dilaudid is Hydromorphone, which is made by chemically altering morphine molecules. Does your doctor suspect you are taking Dilaudid? If you used a product that contains codeine, that might account for the test result. When codeine is metabolized by the body it is broken down into morphine.

Ondansetron ODT or cyclobenzaprine?
Date: 5/22/2012
I take weekly drug test. never dun drugs in my life.i had a drug test 4 days before i had the last one now i had my first positive test for THC and got fired for it. i was perscribed ondansetron odt. and cyclobenzaprine for a reck i was in between the two test. what i know one of them has THC in it. i was wondering what kind of levels would they give me. an 85 or higher meaning you did drugs in the last 60 days i was at 37.

Rickr

AskDocWeb: Cyclobenzaprine has shown up as a non-negative for Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA) but not THC. Ondansetron ODT (Zofran) has not been reported to cause any problems on urine tests for drugs of abuse. ODT stands for oral disintegrating tablet.

Drug test
Date: 5/22/2012
I must take a drug test in 5 days. I take digoxin coumadin zocor tambacor and verapamil. Will these show up in hair or urine? i would prefer to not disclose any info pertaining to my atrial fibrillation. Also, can any of these meds cause false positives?

Billy

AskDocWeb: The only one you take that has been reported to cause a problem on drug tests is Verapamil (Brand names: Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan). Verapamil has sometimes shown up as a false positive for LSD (Reference: 47) so be sure to disclose that you are using it.

Thyroid problem
Date: 5/23/2012
Would having a Thyroid problem keep the THC from eliminating from the body??

Jewelz85

AskDocWeb: Some thyroid problems can slow down the elimination system but it would not block it completely. The thyroid gland produces hormones that control your metabolic rate. In essence, the thyroid acts as your body’s gas pedal controlling how fast your body functions. An overactive or hyperthyroid causes the body’s systems to run too hot and too fast, which can result in drugs being eliminated faster than expected(*). An underactive or hypothyroid causes the body’s systems to run too cold and too slow, which can extend the amount of time it takes for the body to eliminate toxins.

* An overactive thyroid has caused problems with drug testing for patients being treated in pain management programs. Patients are drug tested to assure that they are taking their medication as directed and not selling them on the street. Some patients with an overactive thyroid eliminate drugs from their system too fast. When they are tested, the level of their medication is below what is expected and they are accused of not taking their meds. This has resulted in patients being dismissed.

Lidocaine
Date: 5/23/2012
Could an IM injection of Lidocaine show up in a drug test, and if yes, how long would it take to clear from your system?

Susan

AskDocWeb: Although there are antidotal reports of Lidocaine causing false positives on urine tests, we have yet to see any documentation to back that up. The elimination half-life of an injection of lidocaine is typically 1.5 to 2 hours so it would be completely out of your system in less than 24 hours.

A complete accident
Date: 5/24/2012
Hi I accidentally took a levothyroxine because I thought it was an aspirin and I’m in treatment and was wondering if it would show up on the drug test or give me a false positive for something else. They test for every drug and test two weeks back. It’s not something I can tell my treatment either because they will add two years to my plan and I’m almost done and it was a complete accident.

Smallface

AskDocWeb: Unless they are testing specifically for levothyroxine it does not show up on a typical drug test for drugs of abuse.

Is he telling the truth?
Date: 5/24/2012
I gave my son a drug test and it tested positive for benzo’s, meth, and oxy’s. He is taking Wellbutrin 300mg and Ambien for sleep. He said this is why he tested positive. Is he telling the truth?

Barb

AskDocWeb: The data we have does not support his claim. There is a chance that Wellbutrin might show up as a false positive for amphetamines but nothing else. Ambien does not show up on a drug test for drugs of abuse.

Ambien
Date: 5/24/2012
On a hair follicle test would zolpidem show up as a false positive for benzos, in the past on urine test I have failed for benzos as a result of Ambien prescription?

Ash

AskDocWeb: Sorry Ash, Ambien is a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic of the imidazopyridine class of drugs. It does not show up on drug tests for drugs of abuse.

Diphenhydramin hci
Date: 5/25/2012
I just failed a urine drug test. All I take is 50 mg of Diphenhydramin hci a day for sleep. Can this give a false positive?

Marsha

AskDocWeb: Diphenhydramine has been reported to sometimes show up on urine tests as false positives for benzodiazepines, PCP, and tricyclic antidepressants (Reference: 45.

For crying out loud!
Date: 5/25/2012
I recently was give a UA at my doctor’s office (I take them monthly, as I am prescribed Subuxone) and my UA tested positive for methamphetamine. I do not take any form of narcotics whatsoever, with the exception of my prescription. I do, however, take Ranitidine for my heartburn and I also take Benadryl at night for my allergies. And of course, when I have a headache, I take acetaminophen. Is it possible that any of these OTC medications caused a false positive for methamphetamine on my UA?

My doctor seemed more than willing to send my results off to another lab for a more in-depth test, just to make sure of the results one way or the other. It frightens me that I could test positive for such a horrible narcotic, especially since I have not had anything to do with it….I have a family for crying out loud and would never, under any circumstances put them or even myself in that kind of dangerous situation. Please help!

Ben

AskDocWeb: Getting a false positive result from a drug test comes a shock to most people but a more in-depth test should clear that up. Most likely it was the Ranitidine, which is only one of about 50 medications that may result in a false positive for methamphetamines.

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