Feedback on False Positives from Drug Testing, page 93

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: Hair follicle test for marijuana
Date: 6/22/2010
I recently failed a hair follicle test for marijuana. I do not smoke, although I am around those who do. I also was on Protonix for a while a month ago but stopped b/c it wasn’t working for me. Can I test positive by hair follicle test for having used Protonix? The took 2-3 inches of hair and I used this medication for about a month, ending about a month ago.

Matt

AskDocWeb: It doesn’t make any difference that Protonix might cause a false positive for THC. If they do a spectral analysis, the THC from the second hand marijuana smoke will show up.

Subj: Doxycycline?
Date: 6/23/2010
I’m taking doxycycline for a std i tested positive for cocaine in my drug urinalysis not sure how could it be the prescription I’m taking?

Angela

AskDocWeb: Sorry Angela, Doxycycline has not been documented to cause any problems on urine drug tests.

Doxycycline is a member of the tetracycline antibiotics group, commonly used to treat a variety of infections. Other brand names for Doxycycline include Monodox, Microdox, Periostat, Vibra-Tabs, Oracea, Doryx, Vibrox, Adoxa, Doxyhexal, Doxylin, Doxoral, and Atridox.

Subj: Zyrtec?
Date: 6/23/2010
Can zyrtec cause a false positive?

carolyn

AskDocWeb: There are no reports of Zyrtec causing any problems with urine drug tests. Zyrtec (cetirizine) is used to treat allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itching, watery eyes, or runny nose.

Subj: Imodium A-D?
Date: 6/23/2010
I have to take a drug test for work(urine). Will Immodium AD show up positive for opiates? Thank you!

Coleman

AskDocWeb: Although Imodium (Loperamide) is an opioid drug, it has not been reported to show up on a urine drug test. Loperamide is effective against diarrhea resulting from gastroenteritis or inflammatory bowel disease. In most countries it is available generically and under brand names such as Lopex, Imodium, Dimor, Fortasec and Pepto Diarrhea Control.

Subj: Tested positive for TCA
Date: 6/23/2010
I recently tested positive for TCA in urine, and I don’t do drugs. The only medications I take are prozac and trazadone and stopped xanax about 2 weeks ago, was using it for 4 months to sleep. What could’ve happened?

Deseree

AskDocWeb: Many emergency Rooms test for TCA (tricyclic antidepressants) when someone comes in with a suspected overdose because tricyclic AD overdoses can cause cardio-toxicity, central nervous system depression, even death. It is usually not an isolated test but it is one of the things they test for when abuse is suspected. Tricyclic antidepressants include:

Amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep)
Amoxapine (Asendin)
Clomipramine (Anafranil)
Desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane)
Doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan)
Imipramine (Tofranil)
Nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventyl, Noritren)
Protriptyline (Vivactil)
Trimipramine (Surmontil)

Subj: How likely is this mistake?
Date: 6/24/2010
I was notified by my doctor that I tested positive for cannabis in a urinalysis given to me to verify I was taking the oxycontin they were giving me. I was takeing 50mg of amitryptaline nightly, 100mg of tramadol as needed , 20mg of extender release oxycontine and 10mg of morphine immediate release as needed. Is there any way these could have triggered a false positive? How likely is this just a mistake. They still have to send the sample to a lab for confirmation according to the doc. Again. I’ve never been aroun seen touched or used marijuana in my life.

Angryarmyguy

AskDocWeb: According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), the error rate (percentage of false results) for the EMIT urine tests can range up to 43%, depending on which test is used.

Subj: Copy the drugs listed
Date: 6/24/2010
why cant I copy the drugs listed in your website. Can you send me an email with them listed?

Jackie

AskDocWeb: Hi Jackie, here is an easy way to copy them. When you are looking at this page, hold down your keyboard key labeled “Ctrl” and press the letter “a” key and then release both. This will select the entire contents of that page. Now hold down the key labeled “Ctrl” and press the letter “c” key. This will copy everything into your computer’s temporary memory. Open or start you word processor, press “Ctrl” and the “v” key to paste everything into your word processor. You can then use your word processor to edit out whatever you want and save only what you want to keep.

Subj: Tested positive for METHADONE
Date: 6/24/2010
I was in the emergency room last night for ingesting too many Tramadol tablets. But when my urine test results came back in it said that I tested positive for METHADONE! I was shocked, as I have never seen, much less TAKEN Methadone. In the past I have been put on Lortabs and was recently prescribed Tramadol for pain from Endometriosis, but other than that, a drug user I am not. Can someone please explain how in the world a non drug user just got tested positive for a drug they’ve never so much as SEEN much less taken before?

Nicole

AskDocWeb: Yes, if you have never heard of a false positive then it can come as quite a shock when it happens to you. The cheap urine drug testing kits have an error rate that produces both false positive and false negative results. This is why the court system (in most places) does not allow them to be used as evidence but requires a confirmation test at an independent lab.

Subj: Tested positive for THC
Date: 6/24/2010
I have been taking a proton pump inhibitor on and off for a couple of years. In February I was diagnosed with H.Pylori and went through 2 separate rounds of antibiotic treatments. The first round was something call C-pro which was 3 pills twice a day. My symptoms returned and in March they put me on Kapidex/Dexilant 60mg twice a day. I did not get better and at the beginning of May they put on Pylera along with the two does of Dexilant. I was also taking phenergan because the medicine made me so sick. I also take Aleve or other forms of ibuprofen frequently due to headaches and problems with my shoulder. I just took a drug test for a truck driving job and tested positive for THC. Could it be from these drugs I have been taking? If so how long would the drugs remain in my system and would a hair test make any difference?

Chuck
AskDocWeb: According to a Toxicology Lab Technical Brief from Dr. Joseph Graas, Ph.D., Phenergan-D has shown up as a false positive for something but they do not say what (Ref: 18). The elimination half-life of Phenergan (Promethazine) ranges from 10 to 19 hours with the exception of the metabolites, which may stay in the body for a week or more.

Subj: False positive
Date: 6/25/2010
I am currently on the Methadone Treatment Program. Last month took my monthly drug test, and it had a positive result for benzodiazepam, however I haven’t taken anything life that. I was given Inapsine in the hospital to sedate me is it possible that, that or any thing over the counter could cause the false positive? Thank You,

Jessica – NC

AskDocWeb: Most anti-anxiety medications can result in a false positive for benzodiazepines. Oxaprozin, Daypro, Zoloft, Valerian Root, and valerian root extract have all been reported to sometimes show up as a false positive for benzodiazepines.

Subj: Hydrocodone
Date: 6/27/2010
I tested positive for hydrocodone and hydromorphone, from my parole officer and I have a script for 3 hydro 10 a day but never taken the hydromorphone. he it was a lab that tested it. I called the lab and they told me not to worry about it but I am on parole, so I am mad and they said that if my officer would call the scientist that did the test that they could explain it to him, but they could not tell me, only said not to worry, but I cant get the officer to cintact them, what should I do? Does hydrocodone metabolize it to hydromorphone? I tested neg for morphine and I read some where that they are the only to drugs that cause a test to come back as hydromorphone. should I be worried? My doctor said that it was the hydro and all I needed to do is show him my script, but he want’s a letter from my doc and my doctor dont want to write on the is crazy if he thought for one min that I was using street drugs he would have never wrote my med’s and advice, I need something to show proof that hydrocodone metabolizes in to hydromorphone, please help.

Melissa

AskDocWeb: Some parts of your post seem to be missing so it is hard to understand the problem with your doctor. Hydrocodone does metabolize into hydromorphone, but usually does not cause a positive result in an opiate test since most standard urine drug tests check for morphine and not hydromorphone. Anyway, a confirmatory test would likely clear this up. If you have a positive result for opiates and you present a prescription for hydrocodone or hydromorphone, they can also test separately for these substances to make sure that this is the one causing the false positive or if it is something else.

Subj: Drug testing labs
Date: 6/28/2010
I just want to know why there is not a good lawyer all over this. These drug testing labs RUIN people. Lost jobs, prison time. And FYI, most the time GCMS is not an option. Parole officers do not send out for additional confirmation, they throw you in jail. I went 6 years on parole with no inncident. My PO even told me aleive was ok. I went 6 years without so much as an asprin. surgery with no anesthesia, you name it. Even turned down the local when I got stitched up. Just got back out of jail…a year and three months for nothing. Something needs to be done. They are going to push someone too far.

Dani

Subj: False positive for cocaine?
Date: 6/28/2010
My husband tested positive for cocaine but he does not use but he is taking vicodin 5-500 mg, Hydrodiuril, and Flexeril. Could any one of these have givien him a false positive for cocaine. Thanks,

Shawnda

AskDocWeb: We are not sure about cocaine but Vicodin ES® does contain synthetic opiates (Reference 3 and 18).

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