Can you fail a drug test if you are taking several prescriptions?

Question

Never use illegal drugs, but I'm afraid my employer will test and get false results because I am on about 5 prescribed meds.

Answer 1

Yes, especially if you are taking a narcotic (pain killer) or some sleeping pills. Testing positive shouldn't be an automatic reason for termination of employment. Most people who have a positive test are notified that they tested positive and are allowed to explain that they are on prescription medication. The employer (or rather the agency that actually performs the test) will then contact your physician for a list of your medications. If the medications match what you came up positive for (IE if you come up positive for cocaine and you have a prescription for lidocaine) then you will pass and your employer is usually never notified that you were on meds, they will simply be told that you passed. However, if you test for something that you don't have a current prescription for then you will fail.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

There is a possibility that the meds could cause a positive result. If this happens, you will have the chance to verify that you are on prescription drugs and the doctor that is reviewing the results of the test (known as an MRO) will determine if the meds were what caused the positive result.

Answer 4

Depends on what the employer tests for, but yes you can, but... if you can show the prescription bottles at the testing sight, then they'll note it on the paper and should it come back positive, they know why. This, along with the results of the test will be sent to your employer and because your doc is telling you to take them, the employer should forgive such results, as in you tested positive for codeine, but the prescription from the doc should tell them why and they shouldn't do anything about it.

Answer 5

If you have a prescription, you will be fine. I would simply bring your bottles in to show them. If they like they may contact your Dr. While there are many federal and state laws that protect against discrimination a job may chose not to hire you if the role has vital safety importance. For example, being a crane operator at a shipping dock, and you are taking narcotics due to a disability. Your influence puts lives at risk, thus not meeting the requirements. The drug essay they are going to run will likely be a 10 Panel test looking for Amphetamines, Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines, Cocaine, Methadone, Morphine/Opiates, Methamphetamine, Marijuana, PCP and Ecstasy.

Answer 6

Just make sure that you list the prescription drugs somewhere on your test paper that you sign when you do the drug test. There probably won't be a space for you to do this. I know there used to be. Make a space and list them anyway.
If none of these drugs are narcotics of any kind then you shouldn't have to worry about it.

Answer 7

Easily solved. Get a letter from your doctor explaining exactly what you take inc. the dose and how it may effect a drug test. Show it to your employer and they will show it to the drug lab. They should then take that into account and the results will follow a certain pattern.
Simple aye????

Answer 8

In the state I live in you are asked to fill out a form and list every perscription drug you are currently taking or have taken recently. I always take mine with me since some of them are hard to spell. lol Most companies are only concerned with the illegal drugs anyway. As long as you have a perscription, you'll be fine.

Answer 9

Tell the tester about your medications. Better yet, take the prescription bottles with you when testing.

Answer 10

Well, usually when you take drug tests, they only look for certain chemicals in your system. Unless the medication you're taking has these chemicals, then you're probably gonna be fine :)