Is Benadryl ok?

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Hello all. I am a nurse in Arkansas and I am on probation for a year for testing positive for THC. I will begin my random drug screens this week and I'm clean and ready to just get this started and over with, or at least I thought I was. I've been reading some of the threads on here about recovery and I have seen a few about nurses testing positive for benadryl. Is this something I'm not supposed to use? I haven't seen anything about it in any of my paperwork. I have been notified to abstain from all alcohol, poppy seeds, and hemp products, but nothing about benadryl. I have been taking one ibuprofen pm every week night for years to help me fall asleep. If I'm not supposed to take it then I will stop but I'm concerned if I am tested on Monday will it show up positive from a pill I took on Friday? I am obviously anxious about all this but until now I was mainly just terrified that I would forget to check in or that I would lose my job for having to leave work in the middle of my shift to take drug tests. Please help. Thanks.

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Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.

melatonin works great and is probably a better alternative than Benadryl :-)

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The best thing to do is not chance it... If you must have it you need to get a script from a physician.

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

you have been given good advice

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Specializes in Many areas, currently adult psych.

I am a nurse from Arkansas as well. I just finished my 2 year probation. You can take Benedryl. I sent you a private message regarding testing for the ARBON. Best of luck!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

From what I remember when I was with First Lab during my Diversion program Benadryl was a no no. They said Claritin could be used. But, always check with your case manager and your paperwork. When I first joined in 2008, Mucinex (that had dextromethorphan) was not in my list until 2010. I got arrogant and never updated myself what was new on my list. Why should I? Because I refrained from everything. Until 2012, my last year, I got hit with a major cold and had to take something. Yup, you guessed it. Took Mucinex DM. And, Bam! Positive! Because my work site monitor attested how good I was and it was my first incident I got delayed three months. My fault in it was I didn't care to update myself. I should've known and double check before I took that med. Now I know that DM is a Drug of Abuse med. I had no idea!

Anyway, been out now over two years since my four year program ended. I still don't know how I'm doing this--being sober. I will tell you this: I don't think I will make it back if I decide to go out again. Made too many close calls with my life. I love my life now and my bank account.

Anyway, it's funny how I used to look at this website when I first "came in" and now I'm far removed from monitoring I'm actually posting replies here. Very much grateful for what happened to me. I pray for everyone who is first coming in to stick it out. It's a long road, but it does pass. I promise you!

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Dagobah, what did you test positive for??? Did they say it was DM, or what it just a positive?

I have never heard of that being tested. I agree don't take anything unless you notify your case manager.

I just realized you are from california. That is were I started in 2006 and couldn't stop testing positive for etg. Even though I never drank.

Congratulations that they let you graduate

Gabby

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Specializes in Many areas, currently adult psych.

In Arkansas you don't have a "case manager." I hear that term used a lot. Our state seems to be done very differently from what I've read on here. I took benedryl almost the entire 2 years of my contract and I'm now off. Just list it on your chain of custody form if you have taken it with in 72 hours just like you list any other medication. You will be fine. I know first hand.

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.

^the only problem OP might run in to is benadryl can cause false positives. I went through this with a false positive for PCP (!!) - the headache it caused was unreal and the follow-up GCT was expensive.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Dagobah, what did you test positive for??? Did they say it was DM, or what it just a positive?

I have never heard of that being tested. I agree don't take anything unless you notify your case manager.

I just realized you are from california. That is were I started in 2006 and couldn't stop testing positive for etg. Even though I never drank.

Congratulations that they let you graduate

Gabby

The result actually said DM=dextromethorphan. So, that means it's part of their panel test..

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There is such a thing as a "healthcare worker panel"--and it includes Benadryl, Phenergan, Vistaril, and several other things I can't recall right now. I don't exactly know who uses it or which states/programs test for it, but it does exist--these are just a few of the medications that addiction specialists consider abuse-able. Benadryl has a relatively short half-life, but if they test for it they will find it.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Dagobah, what did you test positive for??? Did they say it was DM, or what it just a positive?

I have never heard of that being tested. I agree don't take anything unless you notify your case manager.

I just realized you are from california. That is were I started in 2006 and couldn't stop testing positive for etg. Even though I never drank.

Congratulations that they let you graduate

Gabby

DM - Dextromethorphan test positive as an opiate - It's what all the cool high school kids are doing these days............

Hppy

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