Question about the Drug Test?

Published

Hi all! I've recently got accepted into my nursing program. Now I have all of these documents and paperwork to sign off. However, I am required to take a 10 panel drug test. I am currently prescribed Klonopin (Clonazepam) for anxiety. I take .5 mg every day. I have a drug test a week from today. Now, my question is: If the test comes back positive but I am prescribed with this med, would the Nursing Director understand and still let me into the program? or Should I just not take my med throughout this whole week just to pass the drug test? I have GAD and sometimes it can be overwhelming for me.. but I'd really do anything just to be in this program.

Thank you!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

When you take a drug test, you are usually asked to disclose all prescription medications. As long as you have a legitimate prescription for this med, you should be fine. You're not taking it like a street drug. Just make sure to discuss your meds with the testing center. The last one we had to do, we had to fill out a form and give them our dr.'s office phone so they could verify any prescriptions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.
When you take a drug test, you are usually asked to disclose all prescription medications. As long as you have a legitimate prescription for this med, you should be fine. You're not taking it like a street drug. Just make sure to discuss your meds with the testing center. The last one we had to do, we had to fill out a form and give them our dr.'s office phone so they could verify any prescriptions.

This exactly. Any time I've had to do a drug test for school or work, I was given a sheet to fill out prescriptions. I've taken drug tests while on post-surgery narcotics and "passed" because I disclosed the prescription.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was required to complete a drug test last semester. I had the same concerns as you since I am prescribed Adderall. I contacted the campus director and my advisor to ask about how that all worked and they told me that it was between me and the drug testing company.

I made a note of my prescriptions prior to giving my sample.

After the results were available, I received a call from the medical review officer with the drug testing company. To confirm my prescription, he told me I could either send a picture of my prescription bottle (had to be dated before the exam) to them or have my pharmacy fax the information over.

So all worked out and I got worked up for nothing :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, ICU.

Your school doesn't need to know anything. The last two pre employment tests I took said to not disclose prescription meds. If anything pops up, the lab medical reviewer calls you to ask for prescription proof. Otherwise no one needs to know what meds you take.

If you really want to keep it private, do as you said and don't take it for a week. I don't recall the half life of clonazepam so I don't know how many days it needs to clear. You'd have to research that.

But really, with a valid prescription, you're fine.

Sent from my iPhone -- blame all errors on spellcheck

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you guys for the response! Half life of Clonazepam is 30 - 40 hours, so I was able to be cleaned out in a week. I decided to not take it to prepare myself for my drug test. Again thanks all!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thank you guys for the response! Half life of Clonazepam is 30 - 40 hours, so I was able to be cleaned out in a week. I decided to not take it to prepare myself for my drug test. Again thanks all!

Oh, HECK no, you got some bad advice regarding NOT taking this medication! Don't go off it, you will be putting yourself through hell for NO reason. If you had a clue how many students (and nurses) are on anti-anxiety medication it'd FLOOR you.

Don't be the person who comes back here in a week sobbing because they are now anxiety-ridden and worried for no reason.

Write down what you take. TAKE your medication. And then there are no followup questions, no issues, your chart isn't flagged as a potential problem (because you failed to disclose). Nobody cares what you're on, they only care if your behavior suddenly goes wonky, OR if your test results don't match your declaration that you signed, saying you disclosed everything.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, ICU.
Oh, HECK no, you got some bad advice regarding NOT taking this medication! Don't go off it, you will be putting yourself through hell for NO reason. If you had a clue how many students (and nurses) are on anti-anxiety medication it'd FLOOR you.

Don't be the person who comes back here in a week sobbing because they are now anxiety-ridden and worried for no reason.

Write down what you take. TAKE your medication. And then there are no followup questions, no issues, your chart isn't flagged as a potential problem (because you failed to disclose). Nobody cares what you're on, they only care if your behavior suddenly goes wonky, OR if your test results don't match your declaration that you signed, saying you disclosed everything.

She's only on 0.5mg daily. That's not a dose that will cause any major issues. And agree with you; many nurses are on anti anxiolytics ;)

Actually, I'd suggest OP get on a better med altogether. Benzodiazepines are not meant for long term anxiety control (and that's where tolerance and dependence come into play). There are better options.

Good luck with your studies and see your provider to help you find something for the long term control of your anxiety.

Sent from my iPhone -- blame all errors on spellcheck

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm prescribed adderall and I certainly plan to stop taking it in order to pass my next drug test. I had to pay $100 extra just because I tested positive (that was paid to the medical review officer). How is that even legal?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

For those of you who will work for employers who do random, unannounced drug tests (perfectly legal, btw), how do you plan to handle that? You can't be permanently off your medications; how will you respond to the question about positives on your screen then?

Simply 'not taking them' before a known test is really not the answer.

Where I work, random and obviously unannounced drug screens are to be expected, no ifs/ands/buts about it. But if any come back as positives BECAUSE of a legal prescription, there is nothing more to do about it. NO additional fees (I don't know how THAT is legal, honestly, but....not my area of expertise).

I just would seriously caution anyone against changing their pattern of medications to comply with a drug test that in the end may make ZERO difference as you can expect this to crop up as long as you are a practicing nurse. Plus, NOT being completely honest in a pre-screening questionnaire can lose you a spot you want, anyway. You are signing on the dotted line that all information provided is accurate and true to the best of your knowledge.

Warning done. Carry on :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

You take Klonopin for GAD. It must be bad enough or you wouldn't need the medication. If you don't take it for a week, do you think your anxiety will be ok? If so, well...maybe you don't need the medication at all. What's more likely is your anxiety will rebound in full force if not worse, including a possibility of inability to sleep. While your dose is small, if you've taken it daily for awhile, you could experience withdrawal symptoms too.

Take your med as prescribed and take your prescription bottle with you to the test. As long as you have a doctor's order for it, you will be fine.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion