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I'm a new grad looking for work in another state, so the stress is already high for me. I have HIV (20+ years and totally healthy with T-cells > 800 and viral load undetectable ). I take Atripla, which can make me nauseous, so my doc prescribed Marinol 5 mg nightly with my Atripla, and alprazolam 0.5 mg nightly (to keep me from waking at 0200 with anxiety, which was a regular occurrence). I don't want to disclose, as I don't think it's important to my practice, but worry about testing + in my UA. If I take my prescription with me to the testing facility, do they take note of it and not relay the test results to the hiring manager, or do they report a positive test and mention that I have a prescription? I would not like to live through the nausea for the next month just to pass a UA.

I spoke with the Oregon BON and was advised that the schools individually set their requirements for drug testing and that taking Marinol per a doctors orders should not be considered grounds for non-acceptance or elimination from the nursing program. Thank you all for your advice and I will be contacting my school to discuss the ramifications of the Marinol.

Thanks for the input...and, no, I would never lay off or change anything about my meds based on anonymous advice. I ♥ my doctor and together we take very good care of me. That said, the Marinol is just for comfort, not theraputically "necessary," so I'll call the BON again today...hopefully they will set my mind at ease.

Thanks for the input, heron. I wouldn't take medical advice from here, anyway, but understand you need to flag for approval. The Marinol is PRN and not necessary for survival...just for comfort. I'll check with the Oregon BON and see what they say.

Thanks for the input. Another big question I have is whether Marinol is considered medical marijuana, or if smoking is the focus of the medical use of pot. I know that Marinol is THC only, without the cannabanoids, so it may or may not be considered "marijuana." Either way, you are probably right...a pos test is a pos test, and that's a big chance to take. Any ideas on how long I should go without Marinol to test negative?

I've been accepted into a nursing program here in Portland, OR, and am a little nervous about the drug test. I have had HIV for over 20 years and, while in perfect health, I take Marinol ( pot in a pill) nightly to counter the effects of Atrilpla. It doesn't give me a high or a thrill, it just settles my stomach and keeps me from having dreams that disturb my sleep. If/when I test positive, will showing my prescription to the school be enough to clear my name, or is there a chance that I will be discriminated against due to the HIV? Is Marinol considered an acceptable reason to test positive? It's not like medical marijuana, in that there is no smoking involved. I have drug tested previously for jobs in different fields, with a positive result, and showing my prescription has always sufficed, but I am unsure as to how this would work for nursing school and nursing in general. I'm afraid to go to the school and disclose my HV status, as I really don't know if the HIV will stigmatize me, but I will need to disclose the Marinol use if the test is positive. Disclosing Marinol use to counteract Atripla side-effects is tantamount to disclosure of my HIV infection, as Artipla is only used for HIV infection, and I assume that nurses and nursing teachers know this. I've worked long and hard to get here and can't imaging having to step away from my dreams due to a prescription. Would it be better to lay off the Marinol till after the test and, if so, how long should I go without it to ensure a negative test. Any feedback is welcomed!