Feedback on False Positives from Drug Testing, page 42
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: Diseases or physical conditions that cause positives?
Date: 8/6/2008
My daughter recently tested positive for cocaine while on parole and was taken to jail. After one week in jail, we took her to the police department for a drug test to establish a base line and she again tested positive for cocaine. She says that she has always tested positive for cocaine whther or not she has used it in the last several months. She is not on any medications or vitamins. She is a vegetarian and cannot eat shellfish because of an iodine allergy. Are there any diseases or physical conditions that could account for the false positives on her drug tests?
Heidi
AskDocWeb: A lot of urine tests have problems with false positives when a person has diabetes. Has she been tested for that?
Subj: Going crazy
Date: 8/6/2008
Hi! Thank you for this website! I was going crazy trying to figure out how my UA came back positive for methamphetamines! I have many health issues and take several meds. It wasn’t until I visited this site that I was shocked to find that the zantac I use for heartburn was the culprit! I decided to visit the website from the company that tested my UA. On their “cross reactants” page, I found zantac listed. They used the GC/MS test for confirmation but I wasn’t sure if I listed that medication because I don’t use it daily. What I need to know is if the test can confirm zantac over meth. I e-mailed the company who won’t give out the info & it’s a forensic lab! Can you possibly answer this for me? I’ve never used meth and I’m being wrongfully accused! Thanks so much!
Christina
AskDocWeb: The GC/MS test should be able to differentiate zantac from meth.
Subj: Kadian
Date: 8/7/2008
I take Kadian for chronic pain, I was given a drug test and I tested negagive, I know most people want to test negative but not me. I take my medicine and would like to know how this could happen. Thank you.
Kathy
AskDocWeb: Kadian contains morphine sulfate, an opioid analgesic, and is a Schedule II controlled substance. The drug test is intended to reveal illegal drug usage. If you are taking prescription Kadian then it is expected to show up. Allowances are made for the Kadian and your drug test shows negative for drug abuse.
Subj: False positive meth test?
Date: 8/8/2008
Can any of these or a combination of these cause a false positive meth test? If so how can you make a probation officer believe you? ranitidine, latulose, viokase
Mary
AskDocWeb: Sorry Mary, none of those have been reported to cause false positives for meth.
Subj: False positive for benzodiazepine?
Date: 8/8/2008
My sister is in drug court and tested false positive for benzodiazepine I was wondering if any of the following will cause this. Cymbolta, Seroquel, Yaz, Phenegran, Demeral, fioricet. She had to go to the emergency room and was given some of this along with her prescriptions can any of these cause a false positive test?
Trisha
AskDocWeb: If the Fioricet had codeine that may cause a positive reading.
Subj: At home UA
Date: 8/8/2008
I have been taking Alavert D-12H for my allergies for about 6-months. This medication contains a rather large amount of pseudoephedrine as a decongestant. I recently took a simple 8-panel at home UA and I have turned up positive for methamphetamine. Could the pseudo and the amount of time I’ve been on the meds cause a false-positive?
Jarom
AskDocWeb: It may, pseudoephedrine has shown up as false positive on other urine tests.
Subj: Yohimbe
Date: 8/8/2008
Can yohimbe cause you to fail a blood test?
Ken
AskDocWeb: Not that we have heard. However, there are some health concerns with using yohimbe if you are on prescription medication.
Subj: Alfalfa products
Date: 8/11/2008
Will nullo or alfalfa products cause a false positive drug test. I take alot for fecal odor.
Mat
AskDocWeb: We haven’t heard of any alfalfa products causing a false positive.
Subj: Valium and Xanax
Date: 8/13/2008
Nordiazepam, Oxazepam, and Temazepam have shown up on a drug test where Xanax was prescribed. Can Xanax cause these other Benzodiazepines to show up? Does taking Valium show positive for these Benzos?
Sheri
AskDocWeb: Both Valium and Xanax contain benzodiazepines.
Subj: Ranitidine and Advil
Date: 8/13/2008
My husband is in probation they did a drugs test and came back positive methamphetamine. The only medicine he took was ranitidine and 4 advil the probation officer say they going sent the test to lab for gc/ms a like to now this test can no de differen in medicine and drugs. After the probation a went to do urine test a concentra and came back negative and I went to do hair test came negative can you explain what happens thanks.
Grace
AskDocWeb: Sorry we can’t explain it. The Advil may have shown up on the urine test as positive for THC but not methamphetamine.
Subj: Ibuprofen
Date: 8/15/2008
I am hearing mixed opinions on if ibuprofen 800mg three times a day for over four months would cause a false positive for thc on a standard cup drug test. I am in hopes you could tell me more about this and refer me to a testing center that knows about this.
Vincent
AskDocWeb: You might try the Toxicology Lab Technical Brief from Dr. Joseph Graas, Ph.D.: www.medicalassistedtreatment.com/245760/index.html
Subj: Tested positive for methadone
Date: 8/15/2008
I just tested positive for methadone for a urine drug screen at my place of employment. I brought my medications to the lad, one of which is nyquil, benadryl, and hydrocodone. I don’t know what to do about this. I have never taken this drug and I fear that my career is on the line.
Diana
AskDocWeb: It sounds like you may need an employment lawyer. Hydrocodone contains synthetic opiates and Nyquil has been reported to show up as a number of things; amphetamines, heroin, opiates, morphine, meth, and ecstasy (Ref: 1, 3, 11, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 26, and 29). Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) has been reported to show up as false positives for Benzodiazepines, PCP, and Tricyclic Antidepressants 2-4 days after a single use. (Reference 45).
Subj: Nasonex
Date: 8/15/2008
I have heard from a chemist that Nasonex, a sinus inhaler, can cause a false positive for cocaine. Have you found that to be true?
Lorraine
AskDocWeb: We’ll check on that. Other nasal sprays like the Vicks inhaler and Afrin sometimes show up as false positives for Amphetamines and Ecstasy on urine tests (See references 2, 10, 16, and 21). If a professional reference for Nasonex can be found we’ll add it to the list.
Subj: Dextromethorphan and sudafed
Date: 8/16/2008
I had 2 false +: one on May 6 and one on July 23rd of 08. I took Theraflu and Mucus Relief (generic OTC for Mucinex) containing guaifenesin and Dextromethorphan. The category for the pos was Amphetamines/Ecstacy. I just had a baby and am on a methadone program going through Child Protective Services investigation as standard procedure for any pregnant woman who took heroin. As soon as I found out I was pregnant I got on the program and got clean and didn’t test + for anything since (besides the 2 false + I just found out about). They weren’t taken at my program, they were taken in Labor and Delivery. Docs and counselor never mentioned it so I think they knew it was a false +, but now the worker is definitely mentioning it. I need help urgently, as I did everything I could to do right by my baby… Please tell me if these meds can cause this false +. Also I think I took sudafed too…
Rydout
AskDocWeb: Dextromethorphan and sudafed are both on this list.
Subj: Positive for benzodiazepines
Date: 8/17/2008
I have been taking a generic form of Zoloft (Sertraline)for approx. 1 yr and I have been on this medicine prior to its generic since 1998. It helps with my anxiety and depression. I don’t believe I will ever stop taking it. However, I recently had a urine test that was positive for Benzodiazepines. I am not aware of any meds I may have taken that contain Benzodiazepines. Could the Zoloft have caused a false positive? I also take Lyrica at 300 mg a day AND Hydrocodone 10 up to 4 times a day. Is it possible that the combination of these drugs would indicate Benzodiazepines?
Sharon
AskDocWeb: Zoloft has been reported (Reference 31) to show up as a false positive for benzodiazepines. Hydrocodone contains synthetic opiates which often complicates drug testing.
Subj: Possession of cocaine
Date: 8/17/2008
My mother was arrested for possession of cocaine. The police found a little container with powder in it and they said it came back as cocaine, but I know for a fact it was not, it was methadone. If the test was done with an emit test, and my mother requests a gc/ms test would it prove to them that she didn’t have cocaine?
Angela
AskDocWeb: Sorry Angela, there is a difference between use and possession. The EMIT test is a test of the urine and would not be used on powder from a container.
Subj: Positive for meth
Date: 8/18/2008
I had a UA and it came back positive for meth… and I had taken sudafed and then after my UA I found out that it makes your UA a positive for meth… but I guess my question is, is there any way to prove that it was sudafed?
Angela
AskDocWeb: Yes, it’s called a Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer (or GC/MS) confirmation test.
Subj: Testing positive for Benzos
Date: 8/18/2008
I am a Methadone Maintenance patient and have been clean for close to nine years. I recently was informed by my clinic that I have been testing positive for Benzos for the past several months. I do not take any Benzos at all. I take the following medications: Levothyroxin, Zoloft, Nexium, IV Flolan and was recently taken off of Revatio. I don’t take anything herbal or OTC. Would any of my medications be producing this false result? I am in danger of losing my take home bottles because of this and I have worked too long and too hard at staying clean for this to happen. Please tell me what my next step should be. Thank you.
Amy
AskDocWeb: According to Dr Robert Hsiung at the University of Chicago, Zoloft has shown up as Benzos on urine drug tests.
Subj: Tested positive for amphetamines
Date: 8/21/2008
I live in Canada, and I am I in an ongoing custody battle. Somehow I tested positive for amphetamines and my x is saying they have made it illegal to sell over the counter products with ingredients which can cause false positives for amphetamines is this true, and if so how can my test come back positive? Could you send me a link or list of over the counter medicines sold in Canada which would have caused this so I can prove to him he is misteaken?
Jen
AskDocWeb: Sorry Jen, we don’t have the time to keep track of products in each country. Try calling your local drugstore. They would know if a law like that was passed or not as it would affect their business.
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