positive drug test help

DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP · Sep 12, 2008

just a question how long is the nac in the bloodstream that will show up? a month? a few weeks?
b/c we have a nurse in a ltc that states that she took a nac that was not prescribed to her a month ago and she told the boss and now they are randomly drug testing. She thinks they are targeting her.
Just wondering if the "one month old pill story will show up or not".

What is a "nac"?

4x4country · Sep 12, 2008

narcotic . sry for the spelling. I guess kinda slang but missed spelled. LOL .

bossynurse101 · Sep 12, 2008

I'm sorry but what if that ankle starts hurting you again in 6 months and you take one of your originally rx pills. i don't see a problem with that. used to be written rx were good for a yr. check with the rx. If i pay for the medicine and have something similar come up and need to use it then i am gonna use it. its mine, i paid for it, it was written for me. To the op: just call your rx for a copy of the script. and if its to old for thier comfort call your doctor for a new one.most will give one

So you're a doctor now? Sorry, don't mean to sound rude but I have seen way too many nurses get into trouble this way. No one intends to become an addict, but that is where it almost always starts. I know, I have heard COUNTLESS stories that all sound the same. "my back was hurting, etc etc I was only going to take it for a week or rwo, etc etc" and somewhere - its never very clear when, but you cross the line from self prescribing to self-diverting - you slip into behaviors that get very grey. Addiction to narcotics is a bigger problem among nurses than most people realize. In this state there are over 4,000 nurses in the IPN program. I can also tell you that most of the ones I know are wonderful, smart, caring, intelligent nurses. NOT ONE OF THEM EVER, ever thought they would end up in a moitoring program for nurses. Probably the biggest problem with addiction is the denial that keeps one locked into this very private hell.

Don't mean to sound morbid and gloomy but I guarantee you - any one of those nurses would agree - there is a reason for pharmaceutical regulations and especially with licensed nurses.

litbitblack, ASN, RN · Sep 12, 2008

So you're a doctor now? Sorry, don't mean to sound rude but I have seen way too many nurses get into trouble this way. No one intends to become an addict, but that is where it almost always starts. I know, I have heard COUNTLESS stories that all sound the same. "my back was hurting, etc etc I was only going to take it for a week or rwo, etc etc" and somewhere - its never very clear when, but you cross the line from self prescribing to self-diverting - you slip into behaviors that get very grey. Addiction to narcotics is a bigger problem among nurses than most people realize. In this state there are over 4,000 nurses in the IPN program. I can also tell you that most of the ones I know are wonderful, smart, caring, intelligent nurses. NOT ONE OF THEM EVER, ever thought they would end up in a moitoring program for nurses. Probably the biggest problem with addiction is the denial that keeps one locked into this very private hell.
Don't mean to sound morbid and gloomy but I guarantee you - any one of those nurses would agree - there is a reason for pharmaceutical regulations and especially with licensed nurses.

NOPE!!!!!!!! I am not a doctor but IF I have a rx for pain pills and have the same problem they were rx for some months down the rode i don't see a problem taking them since i paid for them. Are you saying because I may have been prescribed 20 lortab for back pain and didn't need them all at that time that when my back hurts 2 months later and I still have them that I should again pay to go to the doctor to get a new script when I have some at home. I can see if it wasn't for the same problem or it was acute and something else occured but not for the same thing.

bossynurse101 · Sep 12, 2008

Litbit: I am sure that you have every intention of using those Lortab for the same problem couple months down the road. Hopefully, the pain doesnt come up again, and again, and again and again. Get the picture yet? It is unfortunate thing that not everything in life is not always so black and white. As a nurse, one has an obligation to adhere to the Nurse Practice Act. As an employee, if you're willing to take a chance on a random, well thats your prerogative.

litbitblack, ASN, RN · Sep 12, 2008

Litbit: I am sure that you have every intention of using those Lortab for the same problem couple months down the road. Hopefully, the pain doesnt come up again, and again, and again and again. Get the picture yet? It is unfortunate thing that not everything in life is not always so black and white. As a nurse, one has an obligation to adhere to the Nurse Practice Act. As an employee, if you're willing to take a chance on a random, well thats your prerogative.

gotcha, I haven't taken anything i don't have a script for so i have nothing to worry about. I do want to have the RIGHT to take my med when i have a script for it.

icunurse42066 · Sep 12, 2008

Whenever I've taken a drug test, I've always had an opportunity to list the medications (prescription or otherwise) that I have taken so they know ahead of time in case it shows up in my sample. Did they not ask you the same thing?

Since I have been traveling, I have had several drug tests. At each one I try to inform the lab of what I am taking. They have all told me don't worry about it unless it comes back positive. I guess they aren't too worried about it now.

alabastershadow · Sep 12, 2008

Taking prescription drugs for a purpose other than it was prescribed for is illegal. If you were in severe pain, you should have seen your doctor. I don't know how much trouble you'll get into, but you should know better.

we don't know why she had the prescription, it may have been for severe pain before. That makes this post null and void doll. If she has pain pills for pain, she can use them. And why else would she have pain pills? We should all be a little more compassionate

I would think you would be able to look it up at the pharmacy you generally use. How many docs do you see? one of them had to have prescribed it, just call to the normal docs you go to. If you don't feel like that, call all the pharmacies your frequent, one of those places will have the information.

Worst case scenario they will flag your license and you'll have to explain to the board what happened. As long as you have found the information by then, you will 'probably' be ok.

Unless of course the reason the did a pop drug test was becasue darvocets went missing. Then you might have a problem.

Just my .02 cents.

DA314 · Sep 12, 2008

If she has pain pills for pain, she can use them. And why else would she have pain pills?

This is how addictions start. I have had pain pills for pain after surgery, but did not save them for severe pain when I had a migraine or broken bone. Plus, if she no longer has the bottle, the meds could expire. I would expect a nurse to know these things.

She also never stated why the meds were originally prescribed and if she took them for the same problem (or if she did, I missed the post).

If it was for the same problem, she should have called her Dr., who could have called in a new prescription.

Taking drugs with no bottle and no valid prescription is irresponsible.

alabastershadow · Sep 12, 2008

your reasoning confounds me.

i have anxiety attacks. I have a scrip of alprazolam 0.25 to be taken as needed no more than tid. I get 90 in a script. I can use the same script for 3-6 mths. am I addicted? Or breaking some unknown code with people needing prescriptions?

please explain.

alabastershadow · Sep 12, 2008

I should also point out that i take HALF of a pill at a time.

bossynurse101 · Sep 13, 2008

your reasoning confounds me.
i have anxiety attacks. I have a scrip of alprazolam 0.25 to be taken as needed no more than tid. I get 90 in a script.
please explain.

nuff said.