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Q: NEW over the counter allergy/cold medications test positive for methamphetamine ( Answered,   1 Comment )
Question  
Subject: NEW over the counter allergy/cold medications test positive for methamphetamine
Category: Miscellaneous
Asked by: 2plus2is4-ga
List Price: $5.00
Posted: 03 Mar 2005 01:15 PST
Expires: 02 Apr 2005 01:15 PST
Question ID: 483887
Recently I was drug tested.  I had been sick with allergies and
sneezing horribly. Before the drug test I had tried everything I could
find to stop the sneezing !and a friend even had a small white tablet
she gave me to see if it would help.  The drug test came back positive
for either amphetamine or methamphetamine...I am not sure, I was so
shocked at the results!!!   I also take several maintenance drugs that
I was told would be panelled out once listed.  Could any of the
followig maintenance drugs I taken, along with cold meds, cause this
type of occourence?
I am on  
Premarin 1.25
Zoloft 100 mg
motrin 800mg as needed
Fiorecette (50?) mg
Thank you
xanax as needed
Answer  
Subject: Re: NEW over the counter allergy/cold medications test positive for methamphetamine
Answered By: livioflores-ga on 03 Mar 2005 09:41 PST
 
Hi 2plus2is4!!

None of the listed medications taken alone are linked to amphetamines
or methamphetamines false positives. But many of them are linked to
other false positives.

Premarin and Zoloft actually are not linked to false positives.
Premarin is a conjugated estrogen and Zoloft (sertraline) is a drug
"that not appear in any way on pre-employment drug tests."
See "Zoloft: Will it show up on drug tests?":
http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/3097.html


So I will start with Motrin:
I do not know which version are you taking 'Motrin' or 'Motrin Cold
and Flu'; in the first case the active ingredient is Ibuprofen. This
drug is linked to THC - Marijuana false positives.
Motrin Cold and Flu adds the active ingredient pseudoephedrine to the
ibuprofen. Psuedoephedrine is linked to amphetamines false positives.


Regarding to Fiorecette (Fioricet), this medication has as active
ingredients acetaminophen, butalbital and caffeine.
Butalbital is in a class of drugs called barbiturates, so it will
bring a positive for barbiturates test.
There is no problem with acetaminophen and caffeine:
"Can commonly used chemicals and substances such as vitamins,
penicillin, aspirin, caffeine and acetaminophen (Tylenol), affect the
results?
No - the results are not affected by these substances. Urine drug
tests are substance and derivative metabolite specific. The commonly
taken medications are chemically and structurally different after
being metabolized by the body from the drugs being tested for and
therefore, under most circumstances, they do not interfere with test
results."
From "Drug Test FAQ":
http://www.drug-testing-kits.com/drug-test-faq.html


Xanax: 
Its active ingredient, alprazolam, is in a class of drugs called
benzodiazepines. These drugs are targets in drug tests, so you will
have a positive for benzodiazepines.


I do not know what cold meds have you taken but read the following:
"Other substances that may show up in your drug test known as 'False Positives':
- Tested Drug: Amphetamines
- Substances in drug testing that may show a 'False Positive':
Over-the-counter cold and allergy remedies that contain ephedrine,
pseudoephedrine, propylephedrine, phenylephrine or desoxyephedrine:
Nyquil, Contactd, Sudafed, Allerest 12-Hour, A.R.M., Triaminic 12,
Ornade, Tavist-D, Dimetapp, Sinex, Neosynephrine, Actifed, Bayer
Selectd Maximum Strength Sinus Pain Relief Caplets, Contact Non-Drowsy
Formula Sinus Caplets, Dristan Cold Caplets, Maximum Strength Sine-Aid
Tablets, Maximum Strengeth Sudafed Sinus Caplets, Maximum Strength
Tylenol Sinus Gelcaps, No Drowsiness Sinarest Tabs, Sinus Excedrin
Extra Sterength Caplets, Characol Sinus, Drixoral Cold and Flu,
Efidac/24, Phenegan-D, Robitussin Cold and Flu. Over-the-counter diet
aids containing phenylpropanolamine: Dexatrim, Accutrim.
Over-the-counter nasal sprays: Vicks inhaler, Afrin. Asthma
medication: Marax, Bronkaid tablets, Primatine Tablets...."
From "Drug Test Facts":
http://www.ipassedmydrugtest.com/drug_test_faq.asp


Other resources are:
"False Positve Drug Test Results":
http://www.alwaystestclean.com/false_positive_causes.htm

"Drug test information: false positive drug test":
http://www.drugtestinformation.com/positiveitems.htm

"TOXICOLOGY DRUG TESTING TID BITS":
http://www.ncsconline.org/wc/publications/Res_JudEdu_SubstanceAbuseMaterial19Pub.pdf

"What happens to the urine after it's in the cup?":
http://www.stanford.edu/~johnbrks/theCafe/substance/urine.html

-----------------------------------------------------------

I hope that this hels you. If you find something unclear please do not
hesitate to request for a clarification; if you want, you can post the
name of the cold madications in a request for a clarification in order
to give you more accurate information about them. I will be glad to
give you further assistance on this topic.

Best regards.
livioflores-ga
Comments  
Subject: Re: NEW over the counter allergy/cold medications test positive for methamphetam
From: cynthia-ga on 03 Mar 2005 02:46 PST
 
I answered a very similar question recently.  Read this for
information that might help:

drug testing methamphetamines 
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=477142

This is a very common problem.  I got a false positive for
amphetamines myself, that's why these questions interest me so much. 
We need to help make the public aware.

~~Cynthia

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