Made a mistake, need some advice...

[<3Psych]

Hi all! I'm new to the boards, and I've searched for an answer to my dilemma on here but without much success. I'm hoping someone here can give me some help or has had some experience with a problem like this. Here goes:

I took a painkiller from one of my old and outdated scripts (turns out I'm a horrible nurse when it comes to myself- I have bottles in the house with antibiotics and over the counter meds that are 10 years old!). I actually have a current script for a different painkiller, but was dealing with a nasty toothache and just grabbed the first one I came across.

Surprise! Random test at work 3 days later. I wasn't too concerned since I did have a script, albeit old. So when I got the call from the MRO I reported it as a script, they called the pharmacy who verified, and I figured that would be the end of it. However, the MRO didn't say she would report it as negative (or positive). All she said was "I'll make note of the script and we'll get the information back to your employer and see where they take it from there." To me, that didn't sound like a negative report would be going back to them. And now I'm actually nervous.

This call came yesterday. The first thing I did when I got off the phone was call my boss, who assured me that as long as I had a script it would be okay. She in turn called employee health, who told her the same. However, I'm pretty sure that regardless of circumstances, if the MRO decides the script was too outdated, she is allowed to use her own judgment and still consider it a positive.

I went back to work today in a panic. Nothing was said to me about it from anyone, and I was able to finish out my workday without issue. I'm assuming if the MRO labeled the test as positive, the company would find out immediately, so as not to allow me back to work without adhering to whatever policy they have. Is this right? Or is the worst still about to smack me in the face?

I haven't slept right since this happened. I'm trying hard not to panic, but it's upsetting to think about losing my job and possibly my license over a mistake made in the rush of handling my pain by using an older script instead of my current one.

Has anyone had anything similar to this happen to them? Does anyone know how quickly MRO's send out results after speaking to the donor? Any advice at all would be appreciated. As much as I don't want bad news, I'd rather be prepared.

Sorry this was so long. I'm truly in a panic. Thanks so much for any and all help, info, and advice.

[ronchelednik]

Your having a lot of anxiety over something right now you can't control. Deal with it when it needs to be dealt with, your body will thank you.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Numero uno... clean the junk out of your medicine cabinet. Out dated prescriptions break down and can fry your kidneys if ingested.

Is your current script in the same classification as the drug you tested positive for?

[<3Psych]

I'm trying, its just so scary... but still trying!

[<3Psych]

I know. I am horrible about throwing out medications.

Both scripts are for opiate painkillers, just different ones.

I've been back to work since then without any issues. Is it possible the results haven't been sent? I would think if the results weren't changed to negative that I wouldn't have been able to keep working. Does it take awhile, regardless of results?

[LarkBea]

Did you volunteer that the medication you took was different than the one currently prescribed? Depending on the test your employer used, it might have just shown opiate positive, not broken down into the various kinds unless the one you took was in a different class (for instance, oxycodone, CII, might be separate from hydrocodone/acetaminophen, CIII). That's why the difference is so important. If you test positive for a CII and only have a current Rx for a CIII, you might have some explaining to do.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Opiates will show as opiates .... no difference would show in the UDS.

[LarkBea]

And I don't see how to delete this one.

[LarkBea]

That completely depends on the test used. Some will show differences. For instance, hydrocodone may show hydromorphone metabolites, oxycodone may show oxymorphone.

[catmom1, BSN, RN]

I know. I am horrible about throwing out medications...

I am someone for whom opiates were a drug of choice. I have to tell you that I was horrible about throwing out medications, too--because I took them all!!! (if they were opiates).

For what it's worth, it is obvious to me that you are no addict, lol. If the powers that be who are investigating you had a lick of sense, they would realize that too.

Please keep us updated as to how it's going.

Catmom :paw:

[BlessesRN_2011]

Ha catmom1! I'm with you- before sobriety I could never understand drug take bak programs, or have some 'extra' pain meds around! I took them too!! So glad I'm sober today and if they arnt mine I know I can't take them. Fortunately, having stuff like that in the house is very rare. When my daughter had a T&A she had liquid hydro with a refil. There would have been a day I would have taken what she didn't need and then refilled it for me! In sobriety, I ended up pouring 1/2 the first bottle out (as she didn't need it anymore) and then forgetting about it! Praise God, I am clean and sober and can make good decisions like that now!!

This is the day The Lord has made, we shall rejoice and be glad in it.

[<3Psych]

Thanks to everyone for the support and messages. It's helping more than I can say.

The MRO called and asked which medications I was taking. I gave the names, they verified the one that was present in my test with my pharmacy (and it was the old one, but I did have a script in the system for it). I've never had this happen before so I'm not sure how it works. My boss told me I'll be fine, even with an old script, as did employee health. One of my coworkers has a second job with the state department of health and assured me that I would be okay as long as the medication was prescribed to me. All of this reassurance and I'm still worried.

The MRO called Monday and I've been back to work everyday since then. No issues, but does anyone know if it's possible that they rejected it due to it being an old script? Would I have been brought in by HR by now? Or does it take awhile for results to be sent?

I'll say this much. Regardless of the outcome, I'm getting rid of ALL my outdated scripts. It's not worth the anxiety this has caused.

Again thank you to all who have responded. I will keep you updated as to what happens (if anything). I was going to say I'd feel reassured if I heard nothing by Monday, but I might not feel comfortable until a month or so has passed.

Thanks again everybody!