Feedback on False Positives from Drug Testing, page 56

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: Tested positive for meth and ecstasy
Date: 2/10/2009
Hi, I just recently enlisted into the Active Air Force. I took my physical a week ago and I passed. My recruiter called me back and told me that I, some how, tested positive for meth and ecstasy. I told the doctor during the day of my physical that I took sudafed the day before I was scheduled for a urine test. So now I am permanently disqualified from ever joining the AF. I never took ecstasy or meth. Is there a possibility that sudafed can test a false positive for both? And if so, shouldnt the military lab result catch on to that? Wouldn’t they be able to trell the difference?

Lina

AskDocWeb: Thank you for your service to our country. There are several references that say the urine drug tests misidentify Sudafed as Amphetamines, Meth and Ecstasy (See references 3, 11, 16, 18, 20, 26, and 29). They can tell the difference if they use a GC/MS test to confirm the results but just because that is possible doesn’t mean that it was done. Did you contest the results and request a confirmation test?

Subj: False positive for propoxyphene?
Date: 2/11/2009
My mom tested positive for propoxyphene. She was hospitalized about a week and a half prior to the test. She was administered several drugs, including demerol, darvocet, and some form of sleeping medication. She has heart problems and has been legally on a cornucopia of medications for quite some time. The MRO was not being very cooperative when she contacted them, and she had even mentioned before the screen that she may not pass because of the drugs she’d been given in the hospital. She currently takes amlodipine, hydrochlorot, ibuprofen, medroxypr, metoprolol, trazodone, tramadol, cyclobenzapr, and I think also cipro. Is there any way any of these drugs would cause a false positive for propoxyphene? Please help. Thank you for this website.

A.P.

AskDocWeb: Sorry, we don’t have any data that would help you. Maybe a future reader could offer an explanation.

Subj: Doxycycline?
Date: 2/12/2009
Can doxycycline cause false reading for cocaine?

Carlos

AskDocWeb: We haven’t seen any reports of that happening.

Subj: Dexyromethorphan and phenylephrine?
Date: 2/12/2009
Will dexyromethorphan and phenylephrine cause a ua to fail for anything?

Angela

AskDocWeb: We found three different sources that say Phenylephrine may show up as a false positive for Amphetamines (Ref: 3, 18).

Subj: Tested positive for amphetamines
Date: 2/13/2009
My husband took a JetFuel Energy pill once last week and today he tested positive for amphetamines here are the ingredients (Vitamin B3 Vitamin B12 MCT Oil Guarana Caffeine Anhydrous Green tea Synephrine Yohimbine Acetyl L-Carnitine Evodiamine Hoodia Gordonii Synthetic Guggelsterone Octopamine 5 HTP cAMP Rhodiola Rosea Cortisol Blocker Blend 75 mg Phosphatidylserine Phosphatidylcholine Phosphatidylethanolamine L-Theanine Piperine Extract Bioperine Magnolia Bark). He also takes an acid reducer like pepcid ac and excedrine maximum strength. Will any of this cause a false positive for amphetamines?

Betty

AskDocWeb: None of what you list has been reported to cause a false positive on urine tests. However, several of the supplements show up on our herb caution list.

Subj: False positives for THC?
Date: 2/13/2009
Can the I.V. administered drug “remicade” or “methotrexate” (used for R.A.) cause false positives for THC?

Eric

AskDocWeb: So far no, all the products that have been reported to cause false positives are listed here.

Subj: Penicillin and cough suppressants
Date: 2/13/2009
I have been out of work for 6 months and I have been called to start a job on the 23rd. Next week I have to take a drug test and I am taking Penicillin and cough suppressants. How long does this take to get out of your system? I have read that it can give you a false positive on the drug test. Not sure about the Penicillin, but I know there is an issue with the cough suppressant.

Charlene

AskDocWeb: A week should be plenty of time for these products to clear your system. Cough suppressants that have Dextromethorphan (DXM) seem to be the most mentioned. Dextromethorphan is found in many over-the-counter cough suppressants, including the following:

  • Children’s Sudafed PE Cold & Cough
  • Children’s Tylenol Plus Cough & Sore Throat Suspension Liquid
  • Children’s Tylenol Plus Cough & Runny Nose Suspension Liquid
  • Children’s Tylenol Plus Flu Suspension Liquid
  • Children’s Tylenol Plus Multi-Symptom Cold Suspension Liquid
  • Children’s Vicks NyQuil Cold/Cough Relief Liquid
  • Concentrated Tylenol Infants’ Drops Plus Cold & Cough
  • Guaifenesin Syrup and Dextromethorphan
  • Norel DM Liquid
  • PediaCare Children’s Infant Dropper Long-Acting Cough
  • PediaCare Children’s Infant Drops Decongestant & Cough
  • PediaCare Children’s Liquid Multi-Symptom Cold
  • PediaCare Children’s Long-Acting Cough
  • Pediatric Vicks Formula 44e Cough & Chest Congestion Relief Liquid
  • Pediatric Vicks Formula 44m Cough & Cold Relief Liquid
  • Sudafed PE Cold & Cough Caplets
  • Tylenol Cold Head Congestion Daytime Caplets with Cool Burst
  • Tylenol Cold Head Congestion Nighttime Caplets with Cool Burst
  • Tylenol Cold Head Congestion Severe Daytime Caplets with Cool Burst
  • Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Daytime Liquid with Citrus Burst
  • Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Nighttime Liquid with Citrus Burst
  • Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Severe Caplets with Citrus Burst
  • Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Severe Daytime Liquid with Citrus Burst
  • Tylenol Cough & Sore Throat Daytime Liquid with Cool Burst
  • Tylenol Cough & Sore Throat Nighttime Liquid with Cool Burst
  • Vicks DayQuil Multi-Symptom Cold/Flu Relief LiquiCaps
  • Vicks DayQuil Multi-Symptom Cold/Flu Relief Liquid
  • Vicks Formula 44 Cough Relief Liquid
  • Vicks Formula 44D Cough & Head Congestion Relief Liquid
  • Vicks Formula 44E Cough & Chest Congestion Relief Liquid
  • Vicks Formula 44M Cough, Cold & Flu Relief Liquid
  • Vicks NyQuil Cough Liquid
  • Vicks NyQuil D Cold & Flu Multi-Symptom Relief Liquid
  • Vicks NyQuil Multi-Symptom Cold/Flu Relief LiquiCaps
  • Vicks NyQuil Multi-Symptom Cold/Flu Relief Liquid

Subj: Kidney infection
Date: 2/13/2009
I was postive for cocaine. I had a kidney infection and what can I do to fix it?

Dana

AskDocWeb: Currently the only way to eliminate false positives is to get a GC/MS confirmation test.

Subj: Tested positive for cocaine!
Date: 2/13/2009
I am 6 months pregnant and use NO drugs and tested positive for cocaine! I have been using lidocaine patches on my back for a couple months now due to being in chronic pain. I have metal hardware in my spine and also take Subutex for pain and drank perscription Robitussum (with codeine I think) for a chest infection. I am so upset-this could endanger my life with my unborn child and I have NOT used drugs. Is it the lidocaine patches?

Elisabeth

AskDocWeb: It seems more likely to be the Robitussin. See references 18 and 20.

Subj: Weight loss and drug screen
Date: 2/14/2009
I have not smoked cannabis for months but was a heavy user in college. I took my initial screen and failed for cannabis with a 20ng concentration. I recently joined a gym and have been working out daily. I have lost about 15lbs within the last month. I took the screen directly after I worked out. My question is… can working out burning fat cause an increased level resulting in a failed screen?

steve

AskDocWeb: The active metabolite of marijuana is stored in the fat cells of the body. The more smoked and the heavier the body, the more metabolite stays in the system. There is theory floating around (for years now) that says if a person smoked cannabis that the THC stored in the fat cells is released if that person loses weight quickly and the released THC can show up on a drug test. While that may be possible we have yet to find a source that will document the truth of that.

Subj: Sudafed
Date: 2/14/2009
Does sudefed cause false reading for cocaine?

carlos

AskDocWeb: Sudafed has been misidentified by urine drug screens as Amphetamines, Meth and Ecstasy but not cocaine.

Subj: Promethazine
Date: 2/14/2009
Would promethazine 12.5MG tab make me test posatve for meth?

Julie

AskDocWeb: Promethazine has been reported to show up as a false positive for THC but not meth.

Subj: Tested positive for TCAs
Date: 2/15/2009
I have tested positive on 2 drug tests for TCAs. I do not take antidepresants what could it be? I only take motrin and a antihistamine could this be the problem?

Frank

AskDocWeb: Motrin has been misidentified by urine tests for THC or Marijuana, see reference 1, 3, 16, 18, 20, 26, and 29.

Subj: Red Bull
Date: 2/17/2009
I am on a methodone clinic have over 4 yrs clean but was told I just came up hot for anphetamines anyway the only thing I do is drink alot of energy drinks especially red bull dont understand how this happen. Luckily my clinic let me give another urine I’m am now waiting on the results!!

Chyanne

Subj: Tylenol PM
Date: 2/17/2009
My nephew had a drug test yesterday at work. They told him it showed positive for methadone. Other than a daily vitamin and a blood pressure medication, all he had taken was a Tylenol PM at 8 PM on the previous evening. This man has never taken methadone or any other hard drug in his life. Could the Tylenol PM be the culprit here?

Emma

AskDocWeb: Several of the Tylenol products appear on the list.

Subj: Answering the quote Date: 6/11/2006
Date: 2/17/2009
Can Anbesol cause a false positive for cocaine – I have never used drugs in my life and tested positive for cocaine on a drug test for work – Anbesol has 20% benzocaine – and the molecular structure looks the same – also had tonic water when I was out for dinner the night before – please respond ASAP as I need an explanation. Tamara

AskDocWeb: We haven’t heard about any cases of this happening with Anbesol.

I just had this happen to me! I haven’t taken any kind of drug since 1986, other than normal Rx. Last week, I had my first appt with pain manangement here in FL, and they do all major drug tests upon arrival. I took my normal meds, which were listed on my paperwork, BP med, protonix and ONE Darvocet a day (for like 10 yrs) for my knees. During the week last week, I had a bad toothache so I was using Ambesol. On Thurs, I tried the extra strength gel, but mis judged and used a bit too much. Friday morning when I had the drug test, it tested positive for Methadone.!! That was a surprise to me!! Ambesol is the ONLY thing I did different. Will test again in the future.. MINUS the Ambesol…of course!

M

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