Drug Screen question

sapphire18 · Oct 30, 2012

You should probably throw away medications that are years old and no longer needed.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Oct 30, 2012

If it is not needed why did you take one 10 weeks ago?

Futuresos · Oct 30, 2012

Ten weeks ago, I was a student and took the prescribed medication due to being deathly afraid of public speaking.

tyvin, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2012

It's no longer in your system...if you're really worried about it drink 2 quarts of water a day until the screen. If you are no longer taking the medication on a regular basis don't put it down if you don't want to. They don't have a crystal ball and can't read you mind...relax. Weed stays in your system for 30 days, the rest is usually passed through the body in a week (there are some with long half-lives that stay longer). Also, if it's years old I wouldn't take it. You don't need pills to speak in public... you will probably be speaking in public every day if you become a nurse. You see those pills were probably ineffective due to time so you don't need them anyway. Dump em! I promise you'll feel better :coollook:

Futuresos · Oct 30, 2012

I agree, towards the end of the program, I was able to give presentations without it. This was never something taken regularly anyway...thank you for the advice

brillohead, ADN, RN · Oct 30, 2012

I took half a Flexeril the night before my drug screen -- it never even showed up. You'll be fine, it's long gone by now!

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 30, 2012

If that is the only one you have taken, you should be fine. While some benzos have a very long half-life, none are THAT long.

However, consider this an important lesson learned. If it's an old/expired script, toss it. Most schedule IV med scripts are valid for only 6 months, so a script from several years ago will in no way have protected you should you have popped positive on the test.

Also keep in mind that even a valid prescription is not bullet-proof protection against an employer's policy regarding drug use. You can still face disciplinary action from an employer even if you are taking legally prescribed medication. It's not as likely to happen than it would be if you didn't have a prescription, but it can--and does--occasionally happen. So don't take anything that you don't particularly need.

BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Oct 30, 2012

I'm curious as to why they are asking about medications. I've never in 20 years had an employer ask about meds. I have had the reference lab request a list after the drug screen and prior to reporting results to the hospital, but never have I been asked to provide my private medical information to an employer.

sapphire18 · Oct 30, 2012

I'm curious as to why they are asking about medications. I've never in 20 years had an employer ask about meds. I have had the reference lab request a list after the drug screen and prior to reporting results to the hospital, but never have I been asked to provide my private medical information to an employer.

My last 2 jobs have asked for this- med list, along with a complete medical history. Yuck. (Well that's how it felt to me.)

monkeybug · Oct 30, 2012

My last 2 jobs have asked for this- med list, along with a complete medical history. Yuck. (Well that's how it felt to me.)

That seems like such an invasion of privacy. I understand brining in a list of meds in case something pops up on a drug screen, but I don't think it's appropriate for them to ask you about illnesses and disabilities under the ADA. Well, according to what I just read, they cannot ask you in an interview, but they can require a medical exam.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Oct 30, 2012

could be their malpractice insurance requires this to rule out people who are ax-murderers, etc