What drugs are likely to interfere with urine drug screens?

You might be asked to do a urine drug test for various reasons. Even if you are clean or going through a detox stage of addiction recovery, it might happen you get invalid results as some drugs are likely to interfere with urine drug screens. Moreover, some vitamins, supplements, or even teas can affect urine drug test results. 

As much can depend on your negative drug test results, you might wonder what messes up a urine drug test. We at Little Creek Drug Rehab Lake Ariel PA, want to provide an answer to that question. Keep reading to learn what would make a urine drug test invalid and how you can address this outcome of your drug test and seek help if you are struggling with substance abuse.

Understanding Urine Drug Screens: How They Work

Drug tests use biological samples, like blood or urine, to detect the presence or absence of both legal and illegal substances. Legal substances that can be tested are alcohol and tobacco, as well as over-the-counter medications and prescription medications. Drug tests also screen for illegal substance use. However, since a single drug test can’t determine the frequency and intensity of substance use, it cannot distinguish whether the positive result means the substance was casually used or was a part of a substance use disorder.

There are various techniques and settings for drug screening, and urine drug testing (UDT) is the most common test for detecting drugs. This test requires a sample of your urine (30 ml) and is most commonly used to detect alcohol, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, opiates/opioids, cocaine, and marijuana (THC).

Why would you need a urine drug screening?

You may need a drug test for several reasons, including:

• Medical testing and diagnostics. This might happen when healthcare providers in emergencies suspect drug overdose or poisoning. These tests also help determine the cause of symptoms people are experiencing.
• Legal testing. Your drug screening might be court-ordered in situations where potential evidence of crime collecting is needed when investigating cases or determining conditions in cases of accidents.
• Monitoring. Drug screening as part of monitoring can happen while you’re in a detox program like Benzo Detox or a recovery program at a drug rehab center Wilkes Barre PA, or if you’re taking prescription drugs with high addiction potential.
• Athletic testing. Professional athletes often have to take drug tests for substances that are considered performance-enhancing. 

Our bodies metabolize various drugs at different rates, so the time frames for detecting certain drugs differ. Additionally, some drugs are likely to interfere with urine drug screens, resulting in invalid results.

What Messes Up a Urine Drug Test?

There are many answers to what interferes with a urine test. Various drugs are likely to interfere with urine drug screens, as are medications, home remedies, and even some commonly used chemical compounds, such as baby wash products and mouthwash. 

You should also pay attention to supplements, teas, and food. For instance, poppy seeds naturally contain morphine and codeine, so having a poppy seed bagel can make you test positive for both of those opioids for a whole day after you eat it. Coca tea, a popular remedy in South America, is made with the leaves of the same plant that cocaine comes from. Coca-tea could affect your drug test for up to 36 hours after you had it. 

Passive exposure to certain drugs, like marijuana and crack cocaine, can also result in a false positive if you are chronically exposed. 

If you know you will be screened for drugs, it’s recommended to refrain from using any of these substances. Consult your doctor or pharmacist before opting for supplements or over-the-counter medications. Keep in mind that even a pain reliever such as ibuprofen can result in false positive results for drugs like barbiturates, cannabinoids, and PCP.

Prescription Medications That Interfere with Drug Test Results

Whether you are in a prescription drug addiction rehab or just a regular drug screening, you should know that many prescription drugs are likely to interfere with urine drug screens. Here are several groups of prescription medications to pay attention to:

• Weight loss pills. Among drugs to pay attention to if you’re expecting a drug screening are weight loss pills such as phentermine, a prescription medicine similar to amphetamines used to curb your appetite. 
• Diazepams. They are used to treat anxiety, seizures, muscle spasms or twitches, and sleep issues. It’s important to keep in mind that valium shows up on a drug test. 
• Antidepressants. Some drug screens may not be specific enough to tell apart antidepressants like Zoloft and benzodiazepines. The inaccurate result can happen even several days after you quit taking antidepressants. 
• Antipsychotics. A few antibiotics are known to trigger false-positive test results in some cases. For example, rifampin, used to treat tuberculosis, might show up as an opiate in some rapid urine tests.
• Antibiotics. In some cases, a few antibiotics are known to trigger false-positive test results. For example, rifampin, used to treat tuberculosis, might show up as an opiate in some rapid urine tests. 
• HIV medication. Efavirenz (Sustiva) helps with HIV infection, but on a drug screen, it can seem as if you used marijuana. 

To avoid confusion and invalid conclusions about your drug use, you may want to alert the lab or clinic that you’re using certain prescription drugs. You might not want to disclose the reasons for taking prescription medicines and are not obliged to do so. In those cases, you can ask your physician to back you up if tests turn out false-positive.

Over-the-Counter Drugs That May Affect a Urine Drug Test

In addition to prescription medications, there are over-the-counter drugs that can interfere with drug tests. Cold medications, antihistamines, and other OTC drugs are likely to interfere with urine drug screens. For example, over-the-counter allergy and sleep medications like Benadryl and Advil have diphenhydramine that, on drug screens, can show up as methadone. Methadone helps people quit during heroin rehab in Pennsylvania, but it can also be addictive. Diphenhydramine may also show up as PCP, an illegal hallucinogenic that is often screened for in applicants for federal and many private sector jobs.

Illicit Substances and False Positives: Understanding the Risks

As drugs are likely to interfere with urine drug screens, false-positive results may occur. A false positive indicates that a urine test is positive for drugs when it shouldn’t be. Several prescription and non-prescription drugs have been reported to cause this false positive result. Some tests have been reformulated to correct for false positive results. For instance, over 20 years ago, a test for cannabinoids that resulted in a false positive from ibuprofen was corrected.

Among common substances that may cause false positive results are ibuprofen, naproxen, non-prescription nasal antihistamines, fentanyl, tramadol, morphine, codeine, and many more. Still, according to experts, some drug tests are generally reliable with a low rate of false positives. That is, for instance, the case with the barbiturate test and cocaine tests, which are specific and sensitive. 

The risk of false positive results and substances in your urine sample being misidentified increases if you consume any of the interfering substances. It’s important to inform yourself of all the potential misleading substances and make an effort to avoid them before doing a drug screening. If consuming them is unavoidable, inform the facility in charge of your screening.

Supplements and Herbal Remedies: Can They Interfere with Urine Drug Tests?

When questioning what affects a urine drug test, not many people think of supplements and herbal remedies, assuming that because they’re natural, they cannot have any negative effects. However, supplements, including vitamins, supplements for losing or gaining weight, or supplements for improving athletic performance, can result in a positive drug urine test.

Anything containing hemp, hemp seeds, or hemp seed oil should be avoided if you are to have a drug screening soon. Anabolic steroids are also known to alter drug test results. Likely, a supplement containing any substance that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has declared not allowed for use in dietary supplements (such as ephedra) will cause a false-positive result. Additionally, supplements containing poppy seeds, vitamin B12, Kava, and some prescription medications like Xanax may have the same effect. 

Supplements and herbal remedies, including teas, can be dangerous if not tested thoroughly. This is why it is important to buy supplements from a well-known brand and consult with a physician before taking them.

What Would Make a Urine Drug Test Invalid?

Although some drugs are likely to interfere with urine drug screens, this is not the only cause of a false positive urine drug test. Other things could make your drug test invalid. There can be errors in collecting or managing samples or contaminations at the lab. Finally, tampering with either sample or test can lead to contamination and unreliable test results. 

Avoiding Test Tampering and Contamination

In the fear of testing positive for drugs, you might be tempted to tamper with the sample. Believing this is the way to avoid positive results, of course. There are several ways in which people are trying to temper with urine samples. Some take excessive amounts of water. That way, they make urine samples diluted and reduce the quantity of drugs that can be detected. Some go as far as directly diluting the sample with water. Others are trying to switch their sample with other people’s. While others go as far as to adulterate urine samples with nitrates to minimize the chances of drugs being detected.

All these means of altering the sample are well known and can be recognized from the sample. Or even from specific tests taking into account creatinine concentration in the urine. However, discovering that you tampered with your sample can raise flags and put you under the spotlight way more than coming forward and admitting you used drugs or other substances that can create a false positive result. 

Seeking Professional Help: Recovery Centers and Drug Testing Solutions

Knowing that many drugs are likely to interfere with urine drug screens, you should turn to reliable rehab centers for drug testing and guidance if you’re experiencing substance abuse problems. Recovery centers, like Little Creek Recovery, offer personalized and evidence-based therapies. We help manage substance use by determining the underlying causes and developing skills that serve you lifelong. 

Our comprehensive care and multiple programs, including cocaine rehab, offer continuous monitoring to ensure a comfortable and smooth detox and recovery. We ensure nothing creates a false positive result on your monitoring tests, relieving you from anxiety related to it. We create a solid base and a strong support system that can help you overcome any challenge coming your way.

How Recovery Centers Help with Drug Dependency and Testing

Our goal is lifelong sobriety, which is possible with ongoing treatments and continuous support even after you finish your rehabilitation program. We monitor your progress and schedule psychotherapy sessions and medical support. That will help you reintegrate into your environment, adapt to everyday challenges, and live a fulfilled life. We understand that you might face overwhelming situations, and we remain available for guidance and support when needed.

Some Drugs Are Likely to Interfere With Urine Drug Screens so be Careful

While urine drug screenings are convenient, the test has many limitations. Unfortunately, many drugs are likely to interfere with urine drug screens. As well as common over-the-counter medications and even food and supplements. Some believe that urine drug tests should only be considered presumptive and that confirmatory testing should be implemented.

However, if your drug test is positive because you are experiencing a relapse or using drugs recreationally very frequently, you should consult with professionals. Consider seeking support for overcoming what might be a dependence or addiction problem. Call Little Creek Recovery Drug Rehab Center in Pennsylvania. We’ll help you learn more about ways in which we can support you if you’re struggling with substance abuse.