Will Darvocet-N or Floxin Otic show positive for cocaine on a urine
drug test?  If the answer if yes, for how long? This is very important
and impacts a young man's future.

Hi brownie3,

Darvocet-N, is a synthetic narcotic, related chemically to methadone,
and is comprised of propoxyphene napsylate  and acetominophen
(Tylenol). This drug can take 6-48 hours to clear the body of 
Darvocet-N?s metabolites (breakdown products). Be aware that this is
an *average* time, and depends on other drugs an individual may be
taking, the dosage and frequency of use, as well as the taker?s
metabolism. Even though Darvocet is sometimes crushed into a powder
and snorted like cocaine, it is not cocaine, and will show as a
positive for propoxyphene and depending on test methodology, perhaps
methadone, but *not*cocaine.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003578.htm
http://www.clearchoiceofny.com/drugtestinfo.html
http://www.drugrehabamerica.net/FAQ-darvocet.htm

Floxin Otic solution is made of an antibiotic, ofloxacin, with a small
amount of benzalkonium chloride (preservative), sodium chloride,
water, minute amounts of HCl and NaOH to adjust the pH (acidity).
Floxin-C is not considered a drug of abuse, will not be detected nor
interfere with a drug screen, and you need not worry about its use.
http://www.floxinotic.com/prescribing_info-Bottle.htm

Having said that, Darvocet-N may or may not cause problems with a drug
screen test. That is because every employer/doctor?s office/lab may
use a different test. Some drug screens test for 5 substances, others
test for up to 10. Many of the 10 substance tests include
propoxyphene. See Panels 394010, and 396510
(394151 above these can be excluded as a possibility in your case, as
it is on meconium-newborn baby poop!).
These 2 panels are 10 substance tests that all include propoxyphene.
http://www.esoterix.com/prodserv/test_menu/toxicology.asp


For the initial screening test, which is usually performed as a
condition of employment, or a routine periodic check, a drug screen is
run. You may have no way of knowing what substances your particular
test will include. If the initial screen shows a positive analyte,
then the sample is further analyzed with a method known as gas
chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS). While some foods and over the
counter medications may cause false positives on the screen, the GCMS
test  is far superior in sensititivity and is rarely wrong.

If your original drug screen tests positive, it will be tested furhter
to measure the quantity of Darvocet-N. If the amount is within the
accepted levels for medically prescribed propoxyphene, you should be
alright. Take your prescription bottle with you to the test, and have
the nurse note why you are taking Darvocet-N, how often, the dosage,
and the date of the prescription, along with the prescribing doctor?s
name, and when the prescription will expire.


In looking at the following example test, you can see it tests for the
following drugs of abuse ?screening test for the rapid detection of
carboxylic acid (THC/Marijuana), cocaine and its metabolite,
Benzoylecgonine, PCP (Phencyclidine), Morphine and its related
metabolites derived from Opium (opiates), Methamphetamines (including
Ecstasy), Methadone, PCP (Angel Dust, Amphetamines, Barbiturates, TCA
(Tricyclic Antidepressant) and Benzodiazepines in human urine at or
above the system concentrations levels established as standard
minimums by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the World
Health Organization (WHO) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA).? Methadone is included in this
screen, byt nor propoxyphene.

There is also a test available, just for propoxyphene, and if a
particular employer is concerned about this drug, may include it in
your test. Some settings may have a need to test just for
propoxyphene.
http://www.beckman.com/literature/ClinDiag/9282%20dat%2013%20PROX%201002.pdf


This company?s urine drug screen packages do not detect Darvocet-N,
concerning themselves with the most often abused drugs only.
http://www.bioscaninc.com/productspecs.html


These commonly used over the counter medicines can interfere with a
drug screen. If they cause a positive result, the GCMS test will
detect the false positive.
·Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) 
·Midol 
·Nuprin 
·Sudafed 
·Vicks Nasal Spray 
·Neosynephren 
·Ephedra and Ephedrine-based products (often used in diet products) 
·Detromethorphan 
·Vicks 44 
http://www.collegegrad.com/jobsearch/24-2.shtml

Hope this helps you brownie3! If any part of my answer is unclear,
please request an Answer Clarification, before rating. This will allow
me to assist you further, if possible.
 
Search Terms
propoxyphene  metabolites drug screen
Darvocet-N
Urine drug screens
Familiarity in the field

---

Request for Answer Clarification by brownie3-ga on 13 Jun 2004 10:34 PDT

Thank you for the info- according to
www.erowid.org/chemicals/opiates/opiates_testing.shtml   ofloxacin
(Floxin otic) antibiotic caused a false positive (4/5) times are you
familiar with this?

Also would to over the counter diet pill Zantrex3 cause a false
positive? Perhaps it is spelled Xantrex3 - not sure about that.  Thank
you so much for your help.

---

Clarification of Answer by crabcakes-ga on 13 Jun 2004 13:27 PDT

Hi brownie3,

 I believe you may be referring to oral Ofloxacin tablets, and not ear
drops as mentioned in your question. Ofloxacin tablets *can* cause a
false positive for opiates on a drug screen, but will test negative on
the confirmatory GCMS test. With the tablets,
72%?98% of the drug is excreted in urine within 48 hours. I would say
the *possibility* of the eardrops causing a false positive exists, but
it is highly unlikely. Again, the GCMS test would be negative, as this
would be a false positive.  You can see below, the detection threshold
for some drug screen tests is 300ng/ml while the typical amount of
floxacin detected in the bloodstream of Floxacin Otic users averages
10ng/ml.

http://myphlip.pearsoncmg.com/altproducts/demo/ab2page.cfm?vbcid=6534&vid=1826

Here is a drug information sheet from the manufacturers of Ofloxacin
Otic. ?In adults with perforated tympanic membranes, the maximum serum
drug level of ofloxacin detected was 10 ng/mL after administration of
a 0.3% solution.?
http://www.floxinotic.com/prescribing_info-Singles.htm

According to this site, the threshold cut off level for opiates, is
300ng/ml. Variability exists among different test manufacturers and
methods, but this would be considered an average range.
http://www.erowid.org/psychoactives/testing/testing_writings1.shtml

Illustration of the inner ear
http://www.chw.org/display/PPF/DocID/1402/router.asp

As I recommended with the Darvocet-N prescription, I would take the
Floxacin Otic bottle to the drug test. If the prescription information
label is on the box and not the bottle of drops itself, take the box
along too. Then more information the testers and employers have, the
better.

 For complete peace of mind,  would it possible to delay the test
until the course of prescription drugs is finished? There are a lot of
variables involved in your case. If it is imperative that nothing come
up positive, perhaps waiting a few days after the last dose of
medication is taken would be prudent. Remember, each drug test is
different, each detection threshold is different, and  each persons?s
metabolism is different, affecting the clearance of these substances
from the body.

Now, about Zantrex3 diet pills:

Ingredients of zantrex3: 
Yerba Mate, Caffeine, Guarana, Damiana, Schizonepeta, Green Tea, Peper
Nigum, Teibetan Ginseng, Panax Ginseng, Maca Root, Cocoa Nut, Kola
Nut, Thea Sinensis Complex, Rice Flour, Niacin
http://www.seenontv.com/prod-pages/zantax-3.html

Yerba mate is a xanthine stimulant, (also found in tea and coffee) and
is extracted from a bushy South American tree.
http://www.erowid.org/plants/yerba_mate/yerba_mate_info1.shtml
http://www.noborders.net/mate/ingredients.html

I found no evidence that Zantrax3 should interfere with a drug
screen-it is ephdra-free, and ephedra based diet pills were capable of
causing a false positive drug screen.

Hope this clears thing sup for you!
Sincerely,
crabcakes

---

Request for Answer Clarification by brownie3-ga on 14 Jun 2004 06:10 PDT

Crabcakes - Yes, I was referring to ear drops - He is given 10 drops
in his left ear for a perforated ear drum every twelve hours - Floxin
0.3% Otic - does this change anything you have previously stated? 
Thanks for your help - very helpful.

Brownie3

---

Clarification of Answer by crabcakes-ga on 14 Jun 2004 09:34 PDT

Hi brownie3,

Thank you for your clarification. I'm sorry did not make my statement
clear about the tablets vs. the ear drops.

All references that I found suggesting Floxin (ofloxacin)could cause a
false positive drug screen, were referring to the oral pill form, and
not ear drops. Then I went on to explain how the blood concentration
of Floxin, after using ear drops, is extremely low. Dosing twice a day
will not change the circulating blood level significantly, as the body
is constantly excreting any circulating blood Floxin in the urine.

"In adults with perforated tympanic membranes, the maximum serum drug
level of ofloxacin detected was 10 ng/mL after administration of a
0.3% solution."
http://www.drugs.com/PDR/Floxin_Otic_Solution.html

I would say again, the *possibility* of the eardrops causing a false
positive exists, but it is highly unlikely. Again, the GCMS test would
be negative, as this would be a false positive.  You can see below,
the detection threshold
for some drug screen tests is 300ng/ml while the typical amount of
floxacin detected in the bloodstream of Floxacin Otic users averages
10ng/ml, which is too low to be detected ona drug screen.
http://myphlip.pearsoncmg.com/altproducts/demo/ab2page.cfm?vbcid=6534&vid=1826


Remember, should anything come up positive on the drug screen, the
more definitive, confirmatory GCMS test will be negative. With this
drug combination, it sounds like the young man had a painful ear
infection. Generally speaking, the pain medication, Darvocet-N is only
needed for a day or two, especially after the ear drops decrease the
infection. This means that there will be no detectable Darvocet-N,
after 48 hours.


You can do one of two things:

1)
Have the young man *not* instill the ear drops in the morning, then go
take the urine drug test, and *then* instill the ear drops, after
submitting the urine sample. This will give an extra step to
decreasing the amount of urinary Floxin! Take the prescription bottles
of both medicines, the Darvocet and the Floxin Otic to the drug test.
Have the medical staff note the names of the medications, the dosage,
how long they have been taken, and when they will run out on the form
that accompanies the urine sample. Request that the staff make a copy
of the form, for you. Have the young man take the form with him when
he goes for his followup, along with the prescription bottles (and box
if the label for the ear drops is on the box). This will help support
the fact that he was taking legitimate medicines as prescribed.

2)
Wait 48 hours after the last dose of either medicine to go for the
test. While I am quite certain the Floxin Otic will not cause any
problems, the data I presented above is all I can find. There were no
references to Floxin C causing a positive drug screen. There *were*
references to the oral pill form causing false positives - which, when
you think about it makes sense,as this form of the drug is circulating
in the bloodstream, being excreted in the urine, while the otic form
stays predominately in the ear, with negligible amounts being foun din
the bloodstream.

Hope this has cleared things up for you.
Regards,
crabcakes

Very informative, fast response, would certainly use again.