Can taking prescribed medications bite you in the butt?

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This has been on my mind a lot lately. I'm disabled and take narcotic pain killers as well as benzo's for anxiety. What I'm wondering is if any nurses on here are in my position? If something comes up that requires an investigation, does this situation work against you even though it's something prescribed by your doctor and required for you to work normally in the first place?

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

If a. you have a valid script for these medications and b. aren't coming to work impaired by them, then I don't see why there would be a problem.

However...my facility is another place that does a UDS if you're injured on the job, and like others have mentioned, I'd be concerned if I was legally on opiates/benzos when I was injured--I'd worry that the fact that I'd test positive could be used against me if it suited the facility's best interests. Also, if there's ever a narc discrepancy, they may suspect you first if they know you're on them.

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Specializes in PICU, Pediatrics, Pediatric Home Health.

I work with a nurse educator who is very open about the medications she is on -- multiple narcotics, benzos, and some anti-depressants. I am not sure of the exact specifics but the hospital asked her many years ago (before I started there) to take an education position and she said it was when she announced she was taking narcotics. She is actually forbidden of even helping out on the floor due to her medication use.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
I work with a nurse educator who is very open about the medications she is on -- multiple narcotics, benzos, and some anti-depressants. I am not sure of the exact specifics but the hospital asked her many years ago (before I started there) to take an education position and she said it was when she announced she was taking narcotics. She is actually forbidden of even helping out on the floor due to her medication use.

That is one of the many things that is wrong with nursing. There is a complete lack of understanding in nursing that just because a person is on a narcotic or benzos long term with stable doses it is no different than being on antidepressants or multitude of other medications.

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Specializes in Army Medic.

Unfortunately the nature of addiction with narcotics, coupled with tolerance will make even the most honest people do dishonest things when they don't have their fix.

I can understand the precautions hospitals would want to take based around long term medication therapies involving addictive substances.

Yes it sucks that the people who suffer from addiction put a mar on people who can cope with addictive medications - but how do they tell one from the other? Nobody becomes an addict because they want to, and in the case of prescription medications they often do it totally unknowingly!

I personally had to see an addictions specialist the second I was released from the military - and was cleared by him as being a non-threat for addictive personality or addictive behaviors. 90% of the patients I hear in the VA complaining, are whining because their doctors won't give them extra pain killers.

It's a messed up system, and I wish there were better alternatives for those of us who suffer from chronic pain. Every time I switch physicians I have to go through the entire "drug seeker" stigma with them all over again - it's frustrating, to say the least.

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Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.
If a. you have a valid script for these medications and b. aren't coming to work impaired by them, then I don't see why there would be a problem.

However...my facility is another place that does a UDS if you're injured on the job, and like others have mentioned, I'd be concerned if I was legally on opiates/benzos when I was injured--I'd worry that the fact that I'd test positive could be used against me if it suited the facility's best interests. Also, if there's ever a narc discrepancy, they may suspect you first if they know you're on them.

I agree entirely!

I am certainly not condoning the use of opiates on the job, just that if there is a script it is not illegal.

I am sure you would be suspected first and possibley watched as well.

s

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Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.
That is one of the many things that is wrong with nursing. There is a complete lack of understanding in nursing that just because a person is on a narcotic or benzos long term with stable doses it is no different than being on antidepressants or multitude of other medications.

The problem is that long term use of opiates always leads to a need for increased dose. It is the very nature of the chemical. Tolerance happens as does dependancy. Like a former poster said--no one chooses to become an addict!

But that is really a topic for another thread--see Nurses in Recovery.

s

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
The problem is that long term use of opiates always leads to a need for increased dose. It is the very nature of the chemical. Tolerance happens as does dependancy. Like a former poster said--no one chooses to become an addict!

But that is really a topic for another thread--see Nurses in Recovery.

s

lol....I am a CRNA and deal with chronic painers all the time, if you reread my previous posts I don't advocate long term opiate use because of the problems with hyperalgesia, tolerance etc. Every long term medicine you take you will develop a tolerance/dependence, but what I am saying is that there is an overlying stigma for people that are on long-term/stable dose opiates.

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I have been on narcs for 30 years due to chronic back pain. I can no longer take NSAIDs so narcs are my only option for the pain. I have never worked under in influence. I wait until I get home whether it's an 8 hr or 12 hr shift. Of vourse, it sometimes takes me 5 minutes to get out of my car, but as soon as I'm in the house I take my meds. Last year, I had 3 pre-employment UAs done in 6 months. I got a letter from my PCP saying I have been under his care and taking the meds. No problems when the doc reviewing the UAs called me at home and said I was positive. I just got his fax number and sent the letter.

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Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.
lol....I am a CRNA and deal with chronic painers all the time, if you reread my previous posts I don't advocate long term opiate use because of the problems with hyperalgesia, tolerance etc. Every long term medicine you take you will develop a tolerance/dependence, but what I am saying is that there is an overlying stigma for people that are on long-term/stable dose opiates.

I agree! I did not mean to sound judgemental--lol,too. B/C I have chronic pain and have lived with it for years. I was on opiates for 8 years and developed a raging tolerance. My intake became outrageous.

I quit for personal reasons but that is another story.

Yes, there is a stigma for people that are on long term opiates.I lived it. I am just concerned that the dose can not remain stable and still effective if on long enough.

Certainly as a CRNA you know the risk associated with opiate use and addiction in nursing. Especially in CRNA's.

All I am saying is, be careful and everyone is different and it is not illegal to work if the meds are prescribed and used appropriately. Just that you will probably come under increased scrutiny if there were a problem.

s

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When I started I did disclose the medications I took but only to employee health. As far as anyone else I have never said anything and no one has ever asked. I think the medications have made me a much better nurse and I'm thankful there are things out there that can help those of us that need it.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
I don't currently work as an RN. I have pins in my hip, and a narrow spine.

What I'm wondering is - if a nurse makes a mistake that would require an investigation. Would taking prescribed narcotic pain killers be used against them in a urinalysis - whereas if a nurse made the same mistake and was not taking narcotic pain killers.

In other words, is it something that can cost me my license? Or does it have no effect since it is a legal prescription from a Doctor?

Impaired is impaired, irrespective of whether it's due to legitimate use or illicit use.

Working impaired could certainly cost you your license (not to mention a malpractice judgment) but just because one is taking some narcotics doesn't necessarily equate to being impaired. Probably a case-by-case situation.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
Also, if there's ever a narc discrepancy, they may suspect you first if they know you're on them.
Funny, because the last person I'd suspect of swiping narcs is the one who's already got a scrip and can get 'em legally (and subsidized).
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