How do I avoid a positive test from prescribed medication? : This is a grave concern for most employees and truck drivers subject to DOT or workplace drug testing: getting a positive test result due to his or her prescribed medication. Numerous legitimate prescriptions can mimic drug tests and thus produce false positives—especially when the active ingredient is one that simulates the behavior of controlled substances. It is very important to find a way to responsibly manage your prescription drugs and communicate clearly with your employer or the Medical Review Officer (MRO) so that you don’t have your potential career prospects or compliance record jeopardized.
- Inform Your Employer and Test Facility before Testing
Employees should always declare their prescription medication before the drug testing procedure. More often than not, this includes the name of the drug, dose, and name of the treating physician. This will greatly help the MRO, who is responsible for verifying the legality of your prescription for distinguishing between true medical use and substance abuse. Providing advance notice of your prescription helps the MRO and employer correctly interpret test results, especially during DOT or workplace drug testing.
- Carry Paperwork from the Prescribing Doctor
Drivers must retain copies of their medical prescriptions and medical notes and labels from the pharmacy. These documents would be solid evidence to prove that the drug has been legally prescribed in case of a positive test. The MRO may also contact your doctor to ascertain if that is correct and thus report a negative test with a valid medical explanation. This is useful for CDL drivers, healthcare providers, and federal employees to undergo strict drug testing.
- Avoid Mixing Prescription with Any Other Substance
Other substances, such as certain foods or herbal supplements, might interact with prescription medications to yield false positives. Always check with your physician or pharmacist about whether your medication could interfere with urine or hair follicle drug tests. Mixing prescriptions with alcohol or anything unsupervised would increase the likelihood of being subjected to random or post-accident DOT drug testing.
- Stay Educated and follow medical advice.
To prevent a positive test from prescribed medication, it is better to strictly follow your medical doctor’s orders. Whenever subjected to drug testing, drivers and machine operators in safety-sensitive positions must be assured that their medications will not interfere with their ability to safely perform their tasks. Maintaining open communication between the employer, healthcare provider, and MRO helps ensure that employees are seen as compliant and responsible.
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