HELP! PlEASE! Drug Test False Positive

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2015

You read the other thread about this exact concern and saw many reassuring responses. Be able to present your prescription and you will be fine. You won't be the first nursing student they've ever had who is taking Effexor.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jul 15, 2015

They do confirmation testing after all initial screens. Once they do GC/MS it will be clear that you are not using PCP or other illicit drugs (assuming you are not)

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jul 16, 2015

First of all, stop reading the internet about this stuff. The internet has all kinds of made up stories and lies on it. You shouldn't think just because it's on the internet it's true. Do you know how many people who get positive tests lie and say they have never taken that drug, it must be something else? When indeed they have done the drug.

Here is how the drug tests work. You go to the testing center they tell you to go to. You give them your paperwork, you pee in a cup, hand it in and it's gone. The people at the testing center don't need to know what you take. They are just there to collect the specimens. It gets sent out and analyzed. Several days later if it comes up positive, they will call you. If you have a script for it, you take pictures of the bottle showing it was current the date of your test. If you are getting ready for a refill, save the old bottle. Then, once they get verification, your test goes from positive to negative in the system. The company I work with changes it within the hour of sending them the info.

I highly doubt Effexor is going to come up positive for PCP. But on the off chance that it does, these people are trained for that and can help you navigate what to do. If I remember correctly, Effexor is a tricyclic antidepressant. Those are being tested for in drug screening now. My school tests for it and my pain management physician does also. I take a narcotic for chronic pain and I go through this all the time. My school is the one where I have to prove my script. Obviously, my physician doesn't but as required by law in my state I get tested for other substances. You just need to take some deep breaths and calm down. It will all work out.

DowntheRiver · Jul 16, 2015

I do OccMed testing and drug screens for work. The person who does your test won't care what you are taking. Your school/employer has a Medical Review Officer (MRO) that will be forwarded all the results. If the MRO has any questions, he or she will call you and ask for Rx verification. Not a big deal, I promise.

babeinboots, MSN, NP, CNM · Jul 16, 2015

I actually took a drug test today and on the paper work that I had to fill out, they ask if you have taken any prescribed or OTC medication in the last 30 days. There was a place on the form to list any medication taken. Like a previous poster stated, as long as you can provide proof of a current prescription, you should be fine.

Ashrnicu16 · Jul 16, 2015

Relax. I take Meds for my add and when I take a drug test for work it shows up positive for amphetamines. They just send it off for evaluation and confirm my prescriptions with my pharmacy. You will be fine.

canigraduate · Jul 16, 2015

Wow, you are overreacting. I test positive for adderall or whatever I'm taking at the time. It's not a big deal. You list your medications on the screening form and wait for them to call you. You just show the MRO a pic of your medication bottle with the label.

It's not like they don't know what medications cause positives.

jojo489 · Jul 16, 2015

A little off topic here, but I'm gonna ask anyways, because I'm curious.

When they do these as a pre employment thing, as opposed to a random drug test, is the process the same?

Do any employers ever decide not to bring someone on because of the medications they take?

canigraduate · Jul 16, 2015

A little off topic here, but I'm gonna ask anyways, because I'm curious.
When they do these as a pre employment thing, as opposed to a random drug test, is the process the same?
Do any employers ever decide not to bring someone on because of the medications they take?

Your employers do not know, just the drug test people and employee health. They are bound by HIPAA also and are forbidden to disclose your medications. How do I know? I asked them because I was going to stop taking my meds long enough for them not to show on the drug test if they said they passed it along. Discrimination is real. The employers only know if you passed or failed.

Yes, the process is the same for a random test.

jojo489 · Jul 16, 2015

Your employers do not know, just the drug test people and employee health. They are bound by HIPAA also and are forbidden to disclose your medications. How do I know? I asked them because I was going to stop taking my meds long enough for them not to show on the drug test if they said they passed it along. Discrimination is real. The employers only know if you passed or failed.
Yes, the process is the same for a random test.

Thank you.

I always wondered about that.

DowntheRiver · Jul 16, 2015

I actually took a drug test today and on the paper work that I had to fill out, they ask if you have taken any prescribed or OTC medication in the last 30 days. There was a place on the form to list any medication taken. Like a previous poster stated, as long as you can provide proof of a current prescription, you should be fine.

That's only there to help you "remember" what you took in case there is an issue. I work for a huge OccMed company, and our MRO doesn't even look at that. But every company is different!