Random drug testing

[Adina bat Reuven]

Hello all. I have just started a new job and of course you get drug tested which is fine with me. I do not take take any medications or drugs.  I have had life long anxiety and depression which is treatment resistant it seems. I have tried numerous SSRIs, SNRis, Buspar, etc. and a lot of therapy. Needless to say this has always been an issue for me personally as well as professionally my whole life. I have up and quit jobs for no reasom other than anxiety. I have had 14 jobs in 6 years and I have only managed to hold on to one per diem job for the last three years. How I am not homeless is beyond me but I have always managed to pay the rent somehow,

I have been offered Ativan along with the SSRis and the SNRis and I have always refused it as I know it can be addicting. As a last resort I am going to see a psych NP to get prescribed a very low does of PRN ativan just for the days I have to work which will be 3 days a week. I am at my wits end and I can not lose another job. 

The place I work does random drug tests. The benzo will show up in the drug screen. Will I lose my job or will having a condition needing the Ativan exempt me? It is not something I want to take but I have to keep this job. I have always had bad anxiety but the last 8 years have been the worst.

Thank You

 

[caliotter3]

Some people have found propranolol, prescribed off label for PTSD or severe anxiety, to be very effective. Added benefit is its antihypertensive effects. No worries, as it is not a scheduled drug.  Recommend you speak to your provider about this. Whatever you do, advise you to, as much as possible, keep your medical conditions and meds to yourself. I have read here where people have had personal info like this used against them by coworkers. You don’t need the added stress worrying about this. 

[BeenThere2012, ASN, RN]

Off topic for your drug testing question...but have you tried TMS treatments? No drugs involved and can be highly effective for depression and anxiety.

I wish you the best.  As another said, have you considered a less stressful setting to work in?

[Adina bat Reuven]

Thank you. I want to try TMS treatments as so many other things have not helped or even made it worse with side effects. I just have not been able to hold on to full time jobs for the insurance for the treatments. I have worked in many settings as a nurse. It is me. Not the settings. I have had this all of my life but did not realize what it was. It has got really bad the last 6-8 years.