Pres. meds & work drug tests

[Guest guest]

I am currently on Neuronitn & Klonopin for pain.

I am applying for a job that requires a drug test.

I intend to wean myself of these meds prior to the drug screening as

I do not feel it is their business. I have previously weaned myself

off both of these before when I was having surgery so I am not

concerned about my ability to do so.

My question is, does anyone know how long these two drugs need to be

out of your system completely before they will no longer show on a

drug test?

Thanks,

Kay

[Guest guest]

Kay wrote:

> I am currently on Neuronitn & Klonopin for pain.

> I am applying for a job that requires a drug test.

*********************************************************************

Hello Kay,

Neurontin isn't a narcotic, it will not show up on a drug test, They

are specifically looking for canabis, opiates, valium, caffeine,

amphetamines and barbituates...Klonopin probably will but if you have

been taking it for a long time it is recommended that you take about

seven weeks to withdraw from it since adverse effects can occur. The

half life of Klonopin is 30 to fourty hours..that means that

basically half of the drug you have ingested will still be in your

system 30 to fourty hours later..it adds up when you take it every

day....so it would take some time to get it all out of your system..

I am concerned though because I know we are all different and some of

us want our privacy kept at all costs, but I believe we do ourselves

a dis-service when we keep things to ourselves. If you wanted to,

you could tell these people that you have a seizure disorder, or you

could say nothing and simply show them your prescriptions for the

meds and they will have to eliminate your taking the klonopin from

the list of meds that show up posiive. Klonopin is a benzodiazapine,

a schedule IV medication so it will be up to you to decide what to

do, but for your continued health, I say take the meds and the test

and show them your prescription. They are not allowed to ask you why

you take them. Be careful though, don't eat anything with poppy

seeds on it for a while before the test, your result will come up

with opiate positivity...truly it will..

Also, just a a caveate don't take any antifungals while on the

klonoopin and if you are of child bearing years ...it could cause

birth defects....be careful with herbal meds, some could give you an

adverse reaction....

lastly,

Don't be ashamed that you have a health problem, whatever it is,

nobody is perfect and you would be suprised at the number of people

who hide their health problems from their co-workers for vanity

sake. In the end, you spend a good eight hours a day with these

people five days a week and they become as close as family to you.

Would you hide these problems from your family?

I personally believe that the more people who are aware of my

situation, the better because they watch out for me. They don't judge

me because I tell them the truth, I take narcotic medications along

with many other meds to control my pain and sometimes, because of

that, I won't be able to do my job as well as I would like to. They

know, they understand and they help me out. I hope you can find the

help you will need at work too.

God Bless,

Daphne

[Guest guest]

Just another FYI..I took a drug test years ago and I was taking Fiorinal w/

codeine which I listed but when the test came back it showed morphine in my

system and I was almost fired. Turns out that codeine will metabolize (probably

not the correct term) into morphine after a certain point..I made them call the

drug testing company as I obviously knew I hadn't taken any morphine and they

straightened the whole thing out for me so I guess the moral of this story is

that I think you should list your medications and if something does come back

that you are unsure of, you do have the right to " contest " it if its untrue.

HTH!

Mandy

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[Guest guest]

Mandy wrote:

> Just another FYI..I took a drug test years ago and I was taking Fiorinal w/

codeine which I listed but when the test came back it showed morphine in my

system and I was almost fired. Turns out that codeine will metabolize (probably

not the correct term) into morphine after a certain point..I made them call the

drug testing company as I obviously knew I hadn't taken any morphine and they

straightened the whole thing out for me so I guess the moral of this story is

that I think you should list your medications and if something does come back

that you are unsure of, you do have the right to " contest " it if its untrue.

I thought your post was too important to snip. It is a good reminder for all of

us who are working to keep track of our medications and the print outs that come

with them.

My general practitioner prescribes a stomach medication for me called Protonix.

It works the same as Prevacid et al, but is a wee bit less expensive.

I was quite surprised by the print out that came with my first prescription

fill. It stated that Protonix would give a false positive urine screen for THC

(marijuana).

In my current work, I do not have to be screened, but I keep the current copy of

that print out - just in case my chronic pain doc calls me in for a screening.

My contract with the pain doc says I mustn't use marijuana. Can't have him

thinking that I'm toking up on the side:-)

--

Lyndi