Drug testing, also known as toxicology screening, may be done in two ways. A way that is commonly used is to look for substances in the urine. When a urine sample is analyzed for illegal use of drugs, however, it is important to be aware that certain medications may cause false positive results on different types of drug tests. This occurs because the medication has a similar chemical structure to the drug being looked for in the drug screen.
Ciprofloxacin
The antibiotic ciprofloxacin is part of a group of antibiotics known as quinolones. This category of antibiotics may be taken for a variety of infections caused by bacteria, including anthrax. Ciprofloxacin and other quinolones may mistakenly result in a false positive result for opiate and opioid use. Examples of drugs that are considered opiates include heroin and morphine; these are natural substances that come from the opium poppy. Examples of opioids--synthetic substances that are similar to opioids--include oxycodone and other narcotics. So a person who is being tested for opiates and opioids, and is taking ciprofloxacin at the time, may receive a positive test result even if he has not been in any contact with opioid or opiate medications.
Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin is an antibiotic related to penicillin. It is used to treat ear infections, strep throat and Lyme disease. Side effects of amoxicillin are uncommon but include dizziness, rash, and nausea. Patients who are on amoxicillin and undergo a toxicology screen looking for cocaine may, in very rare cases, be told that they have tested positive for cocaine, even if they have never used cocaine. According to the University of Cincinnati-affiliated website NetWellness, though this association has been observed, it is highly unlikely to occur.
Vicks Inhaler
A commonly used method to help relieve nasal stuffiness and congestion is an inhaler-type medicatio,n such as Vicks' Vapoinhaler. While it may help improve the annoying and uncomfortable symptoms of a cold or allergies, it may also result in a false positive test for methamphetamines. This is because one of the ingredients of the inhaler is a compound that is a form of methamphetamine called levmetamfetamine. Though this form does not work within the central nervous systems, it is structurally very similar to the illegal forms of methamphatamine. So a person may have a cold, use the Vicks VapoInhaler, and, if subjected to a test for methamphetamine, test positive even though no illegal drug use has occurred. This is why, according to a study published in 1995 in "Journal of Analytical Toxicology," it is important to consider the context of a positive drug test--a positive result does not necessarily mean illegal drug use is the reasons for this result.
References
- MedlinePlus: Drug Dependence
- Net Wellness: Addiction and Substance Abuse
- "Journal of Analytical Toxicology;" Drug testing in the workplace: could a positive test for one of the mandated drugs be for reasons other than illicit use of the drug?; M.A. elSohly and A.B. Jones; October 1995
- Vicks: VapoInhaler
- MedlinePlus: Opioid Intoxication
