Anticipate starting a new job soon and expect to do an employment drug test. I take Remeron, Welbutrin, and Buspar for depression and Mysoline and Topamax for essential tremor. I have been told that matabolites of some of these can show up as a positive on the basic urine drug screen....does anyone know if this is true?
In doing the drug test, it is my understanding that the lab will ask for a list of my medications. Will my employer receive that list?
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
It was not an issue as I rarely drink.
I know that some of my fellow travelers made a big deal of "timing" it at time when they would be unlikely to have had alcohol. I never bothered to acquire that data, from my recruiter.
At least one of those that made the big deal over "timing" it, no longer is licensed as a nurse. I thought that she merely had "personality" issues, but later came to the knowledge that she had a serious alcohol addiction. She refused to believe that she had a problem and would not permit treatment.
I had never heard of this being done so I was just curious how it all works. I drink like 1-2 times a year so it wouldn't be an issue for me. I was just curious how effective this would be if it were a 1 time thing. I would think unless someone seemed under the influence it would only be effective if it was randomly done on a regular bases, like if they were concerned with people coming to work still hungover or something.
I am sad to report....that you were actually correct.
Physicians and nurses are #1 in professions that abuse drugs. Followed by attorney's.
It is the #1 reason nurses in my state lose their professional licenses.
Sad, isn't it?
But it is the truth..this is why virtually all hospitals drug test. If you fail a drug test and you are a licensed healthcare professional, it gets reported to the state board of nursing.
It is sad, and I am sure that it won't be too long that we start to see a similar problem in the UK.
In the UK licenses are lost due to deficits in care or to be seen to bring the profession into disrepute which is usually related to financial crime or neglect.
I think drug tests are perfectly legal and a good thing too!
If you have nothing to hide, why fear a drug test?
Those that take prescription medications ,seem to be well educated on what needs to be done and said at the test center to ensure no mistakes can be made resulting in false positives...
The employer or testing site will have a Medical Review officer. This is a physician that is trained to review the non negative drug screen and the candidates prescription information. Some sites do a rapid drug screen, but non negative results should be sent off for confirmation. DOT guidelines state that the collector should not obtain the prescription information. It is the MRO's job to collect that information if it is necessary.
As for listing prescription medications, that should be part of the Health History.
Specializes in Plastics. General Surgery. ITU. Oncology.
How long before caffeine becomes as demonised as tobacco and potential employers exclude people for using it? How long before they want blood work for cholesterol?
how long before caffeine becomes as demonised as tobacco and potential employers exclude people for using it? how long before they want blood work for cholesterol?
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I have a pre employment drug screen and physical tomorrow for a new rn job...I took one lortab little over 3 days ago..will it show up?
No one can definitively answer that question. It depends on your metabolism & the sensitivity of the screen. The bigger issue is the Lortab your own prescription? If the script is yours, you can show documentation of a valid Rx. If the pill was not of your own prescription you have more to worry about if you are positive...
Funny, read something a little while back about drug testing all docs as 75% or something are now "employees" of some big hospital network or another now. OMG, Docs are gonna have to go through the same crap nurses do. *yippee*
The lab does not ask for a list; you wait until they call you after it comes up positive and then give them your docs number to confirm Rxs. If everything is valid the test goes back to the employer as a negative. You have privacy rights and the employer is not given a list of meds unless it was Rxs that couldn't be varified or street drugs which in such a case the test would have been sent as a positive to the employer.
I know a person who sued a drug testing company for revealing the meds to the employer when they had valid Rxs for them. If your meds are legal then the result from the testing company must be sent to the empolyer as a negative. Only when it's illegal can the testing company reveal the drugs to the employer. Know your rights.
~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN
5,259 Posts
I had never heard of this being done so I was just curious how it all works. I drink like 1-2 times a year so it wouldn't be an issue for me. I was just curious how effective this would be if it were a 1 time thing. I would think unless someone seemed under the influence it would only be effective if it was randomly done on a regular bases, like if they were concerned with people coming to work still hungover or something.