Help! Pre-Employment Drug Testing

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 27, 2007

I worked industry for a while, where urine drug screens were done many times a day most days, and don't remember ever seeing OTC's causing a positive result. I don't think I'd worry about it.

Gromit · Mar 27, 2007

No, you will be fine. I'm assuming you didn't take anything that needed a prescription -or that if you did, you had better update your info (to them) with photocopies of the script before they flunk you.

I used to be responsible for administering this test with a construction company. First of all, ALL drugscreen results are weighted to help eliminate false-positives. You would have had to take an inordinant amount of these to test positive (and if you're THAT bad, you should talk to your primary care doc). You will be fine as far as the drugscreen goes.

chriso · Mar 27, 2007

Dont worry, I've never seen those OTC meds show up (i worked in occupational health) and even if it does, they will notify you and give you

chance to state what drugs you are taking and probably do a repeat. Goody luck!

I received an offer of employment this morning and went to HR to sign the offer. The only contingency on the offer was a urine drug screen, which I had to take immediately. The problem is that I have horrible allergies and have been battling with sinus headaches/congestion and fluid in my ears for weeks. This morning (not knowing that I would be taking a UDS), I took 25mg of Benadryl, 1000mg of Acetaminophen, and 60mg of Sudafed. I also had about 3 cups of coffee this morning . Do you think that the Sudafed will make me postive for Methamphetamines? The hospital that I am applying at uses an independent laboratory for their UDS, and I asked the tech if they needed a list of any OTC meds that I had taken lately and they said "no". Now I am very worried that I will not pass my drug screen

fultzymom · Mar 27, 2007

I once had a clinical site that made you drug test. They said that it could show so the school warned us about taking it. But we had the opportunity at any drug test that I have ever taken to list all medications that were taken before the test. Did they not allow you to list any meds taken?

Imafloat, BSN, RN · Mar 27, 2007

The company performing the drug screen would call you if they found something before talking to your employer.

justme1972 · Mar 27, 2007

I have taken several drug tests when I was working b/c of the industry I used to work in.

Every time I have taken one an opportunity was given for me to disclose any and all medication (prescription and over the counter), that I was currently taking. A good drug testing company will be familiar with common "false positives".

Remember, that even if something is NOT a narcotic...the typical definition of an illegal drug that most companies follow is taking anything (aside from OTC meds), that is not prescribed to you, for you.

I always disclose it all...even antibiotics.

caliotter3 · Mar 27, 2007

Any time that I have been required to do a drug screen, I have been asked for a list of meds I am taking. I don't understand why this didn't happen with you. I wouldn't worry about it. If there should be a question just be prepared to give the info and make certain that you state that you were not asked at the time of the test. I think that is improper, procedure wise. If you are really distressed over this you might want to call one of the drug testing companies (can be found in the yellow pages) and see what they tell you about the procedure. I hope you find that you have been apprehensive for nothing.

sasha1224 · Mar 27, 2007

On the flip side, by providing a list of medications before the results, meaning before an offer, the employer could potentially be privy to someones medical problems, especially if they do the testing in that facility. Say someone with asthma or epilepsy or depression lists all the meds they are one, it could be possible that this could be discovered and play a part in an offer or not. And since you cannot discriminate on these, knowledge ahead of time might provide a problem. And a lot of the drugs for these conditions aren't screened for anyway. With narcotics, it will show up, but as long as you can provide the prescription or note from doctor, it should be ok. However, if you had a backache say, and took Grandmas vicoden and it showed up and you can't provide a prescription, it will be a fail. Because it is illegal to take another person's prescription. AT least, this is what I had learned when I was an employee health nurse doing drug screens!

nursesaideBen · Mar 27, 2007

On the flip side, by providing a list of medications before the results, meaning before an offer, the employer could potentially be privy to someones medical problems, especially if they do the testing in that facility. Say someone with asthma or epilepsy or depression lists all the meds they are one, it could be possible that this could be discovered and play a part in an offer or not. And since you cannot discriminate on these, knowledge ahead of time might provide a problem. And a lot of the drugs for these conditions aren't screened for anyway. With narcotics, it will show up, but as long as you can provide the prescription or note from doctor, it should be ok. However, if you had a backache say, and took Grandmas vicoden and it showed up and you can't provide a prescription, it will be a fail. Because it is illegal to take another person's prescription. AT least, this is what I had learned when I was an employee health nurse doing drug screens!

If you're dealing with the Employee Health department of your facility it is illegal for them to reveal any type of medical info. with the NM's. I asked about this when I was hired because I had to have a physical etc done for them. They also said that they can't reveal what types of drugs are in your system to the NM or person who is hiring.

Gromit · Mar 27, 2007

The company performing the drug screen would call you if they found something before talking to your employer.

not necessarily they won't. They are hired by the employer, not you, and by your action of taking the test and signing the paper to seal it, you are turning over permission to let them release the results to the one who commisioned the test.

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 27, 2007

According to my hubby who has administered 1000's of UDS in his career, they didn't ask you for OTC meds because OTC meds do not show up in your drug screen. They are looking for illegal things.

If you happen to pop positive for something on the list, they'll call and ask you to produce a script ASAP or else they will report you to your employer (or potential) in your case.