Positive Urine Drug Sceen-Please Read

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I have been in the nursing field for ten years. I recently was off work on a medical leave. When I returned to work I had to submit to a mandatory urine drug screen, which I willingly did of course. I recieved a phone call around 2 weeks later from the MRO (Medical Review Officer) who informed me that my test results were in and that I had a positive urine drug screen. I was shocked!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He then went on to inform me that it was benzodiazipines and that I neede to provide legal proof for the positve test. He said he needed a letter from a physician that I had been prescribed a medication with this classification. I could not account for any med that I would have taken in this category. I then remembered that I had went for a colonoscopy on March 27th and I was given Versed/Midazalom, I quickly had my physician fax the proof to them (Occupational Health). A couple days later the MRO called me back and told me that the medications I recieved during the colonoscopy could not be the culprit for my positive test, as it had been too long since the colonoscopy was performed (27 days). He reported my positive drug screen to my employer, who now wants to have a formal meeting with me tomorrow (May 20th at noon). I am so worried and I am totally inicent. I guess from what my boss says I may end up suspended for three days or more without pay pending there investigation into this and I will be retested. Anyone ever been through anything similar? Is there any kind of legal advice out there for me??????????????? :crying2:

I can't think of any reason you would have come up positive for BZs. Maybe you eat a ton of bananas? They have trace amounts of diazepam in them, but seriously it wouldn't show on a drug screen. There must be some COC issue, or you somehow got a false-positive. Ibuprofen can actually give a false positive for THC with some of the cheaper tests. I'll look around, but I have no knowledge off hand.

Do you have a source for this?

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Do you have a source for this?

Which part? Bananas or Ibuprofen? Offhand, I don't recall where I read it, but I know it was in one of my many textbooks. As far as THC false-positives, a lot of meds, especially NSAIDs seem to do this with certain tests. A simple Google will turn up some reliable sources. If you're wondering about the bananas and diazepam (Valium) thing, I'd have to really do some searching, but I'll never forget it since it was so strange. I know it was a graduate level textbook written by PhDs and MDs though. Let me look around, but I need to turn in soon for clinicals tomorrow, so I may need to get back to you on it, if that's okay.

Chris :)

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While we are on this subject I'm going to ask a question too.

I have to get a 5 panel drug screen as part of my physical before my school starts. I take Ativan daily (1 mg up to 3 times daily) is this going to cause problems with me getting into school or working as a nurse.

It will certainly raise some questions...

as to 1) why you are taking it; and

2) to assure that taking the ativan does not impair your functioning.

Even then, I can see people being a bit leery of someone taking ativan who is working around patients, just from a legal standpoint. If you were ever a party to a lawsuit (not so hard to be involved), plaintiff attorney would have LOTS of questions for you and for the people who hired you.

You should really check with your program. You might also call up someone like NSO, the rn malpractice company, and ask them what they think...

NurseFirst

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While we are on this subject I'm going to ask a question too.

I have to get a 5 panel drug screen as part of my physical before my school starts. I take Ativan daily (1 mg up to 3 times daily) is this going to cause problems with me getting into school or working as a nurse.

1 to 3x daily? Wow..that's huge. I used to take it too for anxiety. It took me years to get off it.

Good luck with the nsg school dream !

Z

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This link claims ibuprofen will give false-positive for BZs too. http://www.swedish.org/17150.cfm

I really depends on how much testing they do. GC-MS is used often to confirm a positive. I even noticed someone who took Sertraline (Zoloft) was given a false-positive for BZs on another website. Crazy.

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Specializes in ER.
Also be aware that some foods can give positive drug screen results, that is why I am asking.........Have you discussed this with your physician?

A simple easy one is poppy seed bagels can give a positive for cocaine.

poppy seeds give positive opiates not cocaine

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Specializes in ER.
While we are on this subject I'm going to ask a question too.

I have to get a 5 panel drug screen as part of my physical before my school starts. I take Ativan daily (1 mg up to 3 times daily) is this going to cause problems with me getting into school or working as a nurse.

Ativan will show up as positive benzos in a UDS, so just make sure you tell them you are taking it.

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.
poppy seeds give positive opiates not cocaine

You know I never knew! this better not eat any more poppy seed bread then before medical for US embassy lol :rotfl:

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i have to go for a drug screening on monday and had my psychiatrist write a letter w/the list of my meds and how it does not impact my functioning; and that if i did not take these meds, then my functional status would be questionable.

so we'll just have to wait and see....

leslie

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i have to go for a drug screening on monday and had my psychiatrist write a letter w/the list of my meds and how it does not impact my functioning; and that if i did not take these meds, then my functional status would be questionable.

so we'll just have to wait and see....

leslie

Good luckto you Leslie! Maybe in awhile I will be asking for a similar letter and finding a nursing job I can do too. Right now I am not capable of nursing, but maybe in time...you give me hope. :)

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i have to go for a drug screening on monday and had my psychiatrist write a letter w/the list of my meds and how it does not impact my functioning; and that if i did not take these meds, then my functional status would be questionable.

so we'll just have to wait and see....

leslie

Best of luck to you! :)

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Which part?

This part:

>>Maybe you eat a ton of bananas? They have trace amounts of diazepam in them, but seriously it wouldn't show on a drug screen

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