12 Medications That Can Alter Drug Results and Give False Positive.

Drug testing is a method of determining whether or not someone has taken drugs. Drug testing can be done in many ways, one of the most common being the urine test. This type of drug test is usually used for pre-employment screening, compliance monitoring, and random screening. Sometimes, people try to beat the system by taking over-the-counter or prescription medications before their drug test to mask or reduce the presence of illegal substances in their system. But these 12 medications could give you false positives on your drug test.

Read this article to find out more about these 12 medications that can alter your drug screen results.

12 medications that can alter drug test results

Some drugs can cause a false positive result on a drug test. These 12 medications are known to cause false positives on drug tests:

1) Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

2) Anti-diarrheal medicine (Imodium)

3) Antibiotic medicines, such as ciprofloxacin and ampicillin

4) Certain seizure medications, such as Valium and Klonopin

5) ADHD medication (Adderall)

6) Cold or allergy medicines containing decongestants or antihistamines like Sudafed

7) Muscle relaxers like Flexeril and Soma

8 ) High blood pressure medication (Diltiazem).

9) Seizure medication (Valproic acid).

10) Narcotics like morphine and oxycodone. 11) Benzodiazepines like Xanax and Klonopin.

12)) Cough medicine containing dextromethorphan

What are false positives?

A false positive is when you test positive for a drug, but you didn’t actually take that drug.

False positives are most commonly due to one of these 12 medications:

1. Antibiotics –

2. Antidepressants –

3. Antifungals –

4. Blood Pressure Medications –

5. Certain Cough Syrups –

6. Heartburn Drugs –

7. Ibuprofen –

8. Lithium –

9. Painkillers- Codeine, Morphine, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Fentanyl, Tramadol, Hydromorphone-

10. Proton Pump Inhibitors- Protonix and Prilosec-

11. Stimulants- Amphetamines and ADHD Medications-

12. Vitamin Supplements

How to avoid false positives

If you’ve been prescribed one of these medications and are facing a drug test, let your doctor know so they can help you find a solution. You could also ask your employer if they would be willing to reschedule your drug test for another time. Otherwise, there may be no way around it: you’ll need to take the medication as directed and then stop taking it at least 24 hours before your drug screen.

The Importance of Drug Testing

People who don’t take drugs often wonder why drug testing is so important. Drug testing can be used for a variety of reasons, such as screening potential employees and monitoring current employees for compliance. If someone has taken illegal substances and is afraid of being caught, they might try to alter the result of their test by taking over-the-counter or prescription medications beforehand that contain substances that would give them a false positive on a drug test. The following 12 medications can also cause false positives on drug screens:

Conclusion

False positives can cause a lot of stress and heartache for those who are falsely accused.

It is always a good idea to ask your doctor or pharmacist if any of the medications you are taking could affect your drug test results. It is also a good idea to have a discussion with your employer about the substances you are taking and the likelihood that they will affect your drug test results.