Questions about False Positives in Drug Testing, page 258

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.

Vitamin B12?
12/5/2012
My son claims to have had B12 pills in a container. He is adamant they are B12. The officer tested them and said they were amphetamine. Is this possible to show up this way?

Lauren

AskDocWeb: While it is true that one of the B vitamins has caused false positives on drug tests, that is B2, not B12. You can also tell your son that the false positive that might be caused by B2 is for THC, not amphetamine.

No explanation
12/5/2012
I am 56y/o taking Clonidine for severe hypertension. I have fibromyralgia and diabetes, neuropathy with multiple herniated and degeneration of back bones. I was drug tested. I had these results for prescription drugs that I have been on for 14 yrs. or more. I am on clonidine, Gabpentin, Tramadol, Diphenhydramine, Amitriptyline, Cyclobenzaprine, Citalopram/ Zolpidem. Can you explain why nortriptyline and Prochlor perazine in this test when I don’t take them?

Pam

AskDocWeb: Sorry Pam, we see no explanation for that test result. If you believe it to be a false positive then you may want to get a confirmation test.


Concerned about positive alcohol test
12/6/2012
I recently had a positive drug test I have never taken a drug test before and I do not do drugs or drink alcohol, but my test came back positive for alcohol, Hydromorphone and hydrocodone. I am a diabetic and I do take a lot of different medicine one of them is hydrocodone for pain. can my diabetes cause my test to come up positive for alcohol. I also have kidney problems and a fatty liver and I take a lot of different meds. I am currently on 3 different insulin and take a pill called metformen for my diabetes could this be the cause of my positive drug test? I have never drank alcohol before.

Miriam

AskDocWeb: The medication that you are taking has not been reported to cause positive alcohol tests. However, there are many food, cosmetic and hygiene products that could account for that. In order to find the cause you need to consider every product that you put on your body as well as your food and drink. The EtG (Ethylglucuronide) tests for alcohol are very sensitive and are known to produce a lot of false positives. Here is a partial list of items that have been reported to cause a positive ETG test results.

Sterling Reference Laboratories states that the EtG (Ethylglucuronide) test is a sensitive biomarker of ethyl alcohol exposure and that a low-level positive EtG could result from sources other than beverage alcohol. A low level test result may be termed an innocent positive if it is believed to be caused by other sources.

Any person that is subjected to EtG testing should read the Advisory issued by the US Department of Health and Human Services. Although it is dated September 2006 it remains in effect today.

Another possibility is that of diabetes. If diabetes is out of control that can produce a positive test for alcohol.

Mucinex?
12/6/2012
I just tested positive for morphine. All I took was mucinex. How can I prove this?

Mike

AskDocWeb: In order to prove that you haven’t taken morphine the original sample must undergo the addition testing of a confirmation test. Preferably that would be done by a certified laboratory. For a list of SAMHSA certified laboratories see page 185.

Chanca Piedra
12/6/2012
My granddaughter has had problems with kidney stones. I got her the herb Chanca Piedra and she has been taking it every day. She just tested positive for “morphine” on her work drug screen. We are at our wits end. Could this have caused it?

Judy

AskDocWeb: We haven’t seen anything that would connect Chanca Piedra with drug test results for drugs of abuse. Most of the false positives for morphine that we have researched were caused by cold, allergy, or cough medicine so you may want to consider that. If the test result was a false positive then getting a confirmation test would clear that up.

Chanca Piedra is known as the “stonebreaker” herb in South America. It is used to dissolve and eliminate kidney stones.

Tested positive for PCP
12/6/2012
We recently had my father in the hosptial for un explained seziurs, they relesed him with a dignoses of accedental medication overdose, i now have comtrol of all his meds. We went to his regular doctor a couple days ago and his doctor informed us that his er doctor showed he tested positive for PCP. We didnt even know what that was till we looked into it, Can any of the following meds come up as PCP in a UA; Niaspan, Trazodone, Tizanidine, Ranitidine, Gabaentin, Bupropion, Clopidogrel, Nabumetone, Lisinopril, or Aspiprin. I know that’s a lot, but that’s only half of whats he on. Thank you!

Sam

AskDocWeb: Hello Sam, thanks for your question. None of the medications that you list are known to cause a false positive for PCP in urine tests. There are only a few substances that might cause that:

  • Benadryl (Diphenhydramine)
  • Diazepam
  • Doxylamine
  • Effexor Tablets (venlafaxine hydrochloride)
  • Ketamine
  • Lamotrigine (Lamictal®)
  • Theraflu (formulas containing diphenhydramine)
  • Tylenol Simply Sleeps (Diphenhydramine)

A GC/MS confirmation test would eliminate any false positives cause by the above substances.

Loratadine?
12/7/2012
Will Loratadine show up in my husbands urine drug test? He was taking an over the counter medication for a cold. If so thats the end of his career. Thank you,

Melanie

AskDocWeb: If his career is at risk then why not get a confirmation test to eliminate false positives? Loratadine has been reported to show up as a false positive for morphine, meth, ecstasy (References 1, 11, 16, and 18), and amphetamines (Reference: 3).

The generic drug loratadine is also sold under the brand names Claritin, Alavert, Claritin Reditab, Claritin Hives Relief, Clear-Atadine, Clear-Atadine Children’s, Dimetapp, Loratadine Reditab, Ohm Allergy Relief, Tavist ND, Wal-itin, and Dimetapp ND.

Amphetamine?
12/7/2012
I am 7 months pregnant and had a urinalysis down in the ER for Chest Pain. The nurse got the urine sample from the bathroom and Lates told me I tested positive for amphetamines. I have Never done any of that. Lately i have taken some Robbitusin for a cough, acid reflux medicine(Zantec) and my Prenatal vitamins. Can a positive test for amphetamines be caused by something else? Thanks.

Amphetamine?

AskDocWeb: Yes, there are over 100 substances that have been documented to sometimes show up as a false positive for amphetamines on urine drug tests. Fortunately there are confirmation tests that can tell if amphetamines are really in your system or not, although you may have to request one to get it.

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