cypress434
Old Hand
Reged: 04/14/02
Posts: 421
Loc: The Deep Southern US
|
|
Hi All,
Hope someone can help me out here. I have been on oxycontin for 3 months, 20 mg. A little over 24 hours ago my spouse (who has a very physically demanding job) was in some serious pain and I insisted he take one so that he would be able to get some pain-free and well-needed sleep (he works 7 days a week, sometimes 12-14 hours a day.) He just found out that when he goes in to work tonite (temporarily working nights right now) they will be giving him a urine drug screen. OUCH.
I already know that if he drinks alot of water, he would need to take creatine plus a vitamin for "color".
I was wondering if any of you has ever taken just ONE single oxycontin pill, and maybe has a prescription for
hydrocodone but not oxy, has ever had their drug screen come back showing that they could tell that they took oxy in addition to their (legal) hydrocodone?
My hubby has had to take a drug test (it is a construction type company with a few thousand employees)- and he has taken only ONE oxycontin pill - my husband does absolutely NO recreational drugs, period, but was in agony, and I couldn't stand to see him in such pain (and he is NOT a complainer, so when he DOES say something, I know the pain is serious.
I've tried to read all I can here using the search feature about any previous threads regarding this. I AM confused as to whether or not a test done by a 'medium' sized company, the kind done on their premises (and not at a doctor's office or lab), whether it would show up as specifically OXY, or just as an opiod/opiate (whatever the difference.)
If they can't tell the difference, what might help is the fact that he *did* have an injury about 4 months ago on the job that required a very minor surgery, and was GIVEN a bottle of hydrocodone from the company doctor's office, so I thought that either he could say he had one left, and hurt so bad he had to take it - or maybe, that *I* have been treated for a long time for chronic pain, and maybe talk to his boss and bring along my last empty bottle of oxy and hydro in his truck if needed, maybe even several bottles, to show them that it wasn't a "street drug", that I have a legitimate condition (and it is all given by ONE single doctor) - and that I'm just his wife that was trying to show him some compassion for his pain, so that he could work SAFELY the next day because his job can be dangerous if he's sleepy.
We're just freaking out - he does have his immediate boss that he is thinking about talking to about this, and it's not like he bought it as a street drug or is a recreational drug user.
I just can't tell whether they would come out as positive for prescription opiates in general, in which then he could just tell them that he took his last pill that the COMPANY doctor gave him before the surgery, or if it will definitely show up as oxycodone. ANY help and advice, ASAP, would be appreciated. He really NEEDS this job - and he really needs his own pain control, but dealing with me and my needs is so expensive he never tried to get his own OP yet, which he needs to, honestly.
ANY help you can give (and we can't afford any $50 bottles of stuff that only "hides" THC, since we don't smoke weed or do illegal drugs. It just figures that the ONE time I try to help my husband (because I don't want him to have an accident and die at work) might result in his being fired. If that happens, then we're up chit creek without a paddle.
Thanks very much in advance...and please hurry if you have any responses to give, because we have 3 hours to figure out what to do here.
Pain free days to all, and thanks...
--------------------
Cypress434
Character is what you do when no one is watching.
|
night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 842
Loc: The State of Hockey
|
|
If he has a prescription (even an old one) for ANY opiate, he'll be OK. Otherwise, a single use of an opiate takes between 2-3 days to clear the system.
Best of luck. 
- night_shade
--------------------
Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
|
LeighA
Member
Reged: 06/12/03
Posts: 116
Loc: Pacific Northwest
|
|
I agree with Nightshade. Many times when you do a UA they ask on the questionnare if you have any drugs prescribed to, what it is and what Dr. Have him take the info off the script he has and fill out the form with the info off the old meds. Good luck.
|
cypress434
Old Hand
Reged: 04/14/02
Posts: 421
Loc: The Deep Southern US
|
|
He doesn't have the bottles (we forgot he took a .5 xanax the same time to be able to sleep and not be too hyper to) - but if we have to go to the drugstore for a printout for the time he got ONE bottle of Xanax ONCE a couple of years back, AND since the COMPANY doctor gave him hydro a few months back) - and some people are the type to NOT take all of their meds 'til they're gone, but save them for 'as needed' - I'm hoping that this will help. I *thought* it was an "instant results" test, but I think they're going to be sent to a lab - and this is what they test for:
cannabinoid, cocaine (metab), opiates, amphetamine, phencyclidine, barbs, benzos, methaqualone, and methadone.
I thought this might help someone in determining if the last two would be something the oxy would fall under (after metabolized). Time is running short...about an hour till he leaves.
I think that as long as the opiates are "general" and include both hydro AND oxycodone under that 'umbrella', then he should be safe because he will be able to show them either from doctor records or pharmacy records that he has been prescribed both xanax and hydro in the past, and it's his right to keep what he doesn't take and use it as he feels he needs to. He's not one to "enjoy" pills, believe me. I just hope this doesn't mean he'll come across some
@ss who will say that's not good enough, or that because we didn't keep original bottles for a single pill or two left over, but just put them into one with his name on it, as long as there are records somewhere that he can get, he should be ok...
oh, and this is the "cutoff levels" in use by the lab, in the same order as the list above of what they test for:
can. 50ng/ml, coc. 300ng/ml, opiates 300ng/ml, amp. 1000ng/ml, phen. 25ng/ml, barb 200ng/ml, benzo 200ng/ml,
methadone, methaqualone and propoxyphene all are 300ng/ml.
I wonder what the heck the last two are, and that phenylcyclidine stuff...never heard of that, and too nervous to look it up.
THANKS...
--------------------
Cypress434
Character is what you do when no one is watching.
|
IMSUSCOT1
Veteran
Reged: 10/23/02
Posts: 733
Loc: usa
|
|
He'll come up positive for opiods & benzo's.....tell him to list he hydrocodone & xanax...nothing says you have to take ALL your pills within the prescribed time limit....list it it should be no problem. He can try diluting his urine w/tons of H2O prior to the test, which will result in a rest in a few days...and maybe that's not a bad idea.
|
ars0n29
Stranger
Reged: 04/01/03
Posts: 20
|
|
I know of a website that gives lots of info on these matters (PM me and I will give u the web address) it states that,
"Oxycodone does not show up in the basic opiate test which is part of the standard pre-employment drug test. The opiate test tests primarily for morphine (which both codeine and heroin break down into). Since oxycodone does not break down into morphine, it is not detected. As with most substances, oxycodone is possible to test for, but it is quite rare for this to be done."
So, personally I would just drink a lot of water, take some vitamin b-12 and he should be good to go. I wagree with LeighA, they should have him fill something out, if they do, tell him to write down the meds he has take (hydrocodone). But if they don't ask, don't tell. Wate for them to come back with the test results, then explain.
If they are testing it on premises, it will probably be one of those cheap tests that they just stick into the urine sample, let it sit for 5 minutes and then read the results. They are probably just making sure no one is smoking anything illegal.
Good luck and down let this stress you out. 
|
digitalone
Reged: 08/18/03
Posts: 181
Loc: USA
|
|
FYI - Screeners can reject samples based solely on dillution.
|
Dante6677
Member
Reged: 08/14/03
Posts: 131
Loc: Fl. Panhandle
|
|
My cousin got a new job 3 month ago and took a test after eating 20mg oxy. Never heard a word about it and he didnt have a script~
|
Greycie
Old Hand
Reged: 07/08/03
Posts: 404
Loc: Pacific NorthWest
|
|
One other thing that will hopefully at least give you a bit of a breather from your worries and something I did not know until it happened- sometimes it's not a matter of having the drug in your system but rather a matter of how much of the drug is in your system. The company I work for does a pre-employment drug screening and a couple of my friends are pretty heavy pot smokers. One of which passed the test, the other did not. When asked about this, the two were told that you're allowed a certain level of the drug in your system- he had above that level, she had below... so! I don't know if your husband's company operates the same way but I'd be willing to bet if they do, having taken only one pill will not be enough to effect his job HOPEFULLY that's how it works out for you and hopefully it all does work out for you Good luck!
--------------------
"I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Voltaire
|
cypress434
Old Hand
Reged: 04/14/02
Posts: 421
Loc: The Deep Southern US
|
|
THANKS for telling me that the oxy won't show specifically. I think he plans to list nothing, and tomorrow get papers from the docs to show he was prescribed both. He drank a liter of water, but took a vitamin pack that has that stuff (creatine?) in it so it won't look 'watered down'. He's already taken it, and they send it somewhere, so if they have a problem with it he can always say that since they were legally prescribed meds he didn't realize he had to list them, or that he simply forgot, and then bring them the papers from the docs and/or pharmacies.
Thanks for the help, ya'll. I sure appreciate it.
OH, on another note - I just spoke to the doctor who had given him the xanax - and he said it wouldn't "do any good" and compared it to my husband having drugs in his possession and being arrested, and that having had them prescribed "one time" wouldn't mean chit to the cops - but I DO think that one ain't got a doggone thing to do with the other. Guess all there is to do is pray and hope that the levels are low enough to not show, or that the papers will be enough. Oh, and this doctor was quick to assume my husband is some pillpopping freak, when nothing could be further from the truth. Doctors...GRRRRRR 
--------------------
Cypress434
Character is what you do when no one is watching.
|
digitalone
Reged: 08/18/03
Posts: 181
Loc: USA
|
|
I had a pre-employment screen one time, for a Fortune-50 company, and I kept telling them I knew it would test pos for benzos - since I had a script for Xanax. They didn't even right it down or ask what meds I was taking. All they said was "The doctor will call you if needed". Never heard a word back and was never approached by my employer about it. Wierd..
|
night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 842
Loc: The State of Hockey
|
|
Did a little research and found the following Cut and paste from http://www.drugscreenassociates.com/techreport.html :
The following Opiates-related substances yield a positive result for Opiates:
Morphine 300 ng/ml
Oxycodone 1,000 ng/ml
Morphine-3-b-d-Glucuronide 300 ng/ml
Levorphanol 600 ng/ml
Codeine 300 ng/ml
Naloxone 1,000 ng/ml
Heroin 300 ng/ml
Thebaine 1,500 ng/ml
Norcodeine 2,000 ng/ml
Imipramine 50,000 ng/ml
Nalorphine 300 ng/ml
Atropine 100,000 ng/ml
Hydrocodone 500 ng/ml
Meperidine 100,000 ng/ml
Hydromorphone 300 ng/ml
Ranitidine 100,000 ng/ml
As you can see, Oxycodone WILL cause a positive for opiate screens.
The Xanax will show a positive Benzo tests for 3-5 days on a single use.
I would just say I have an Rx for those 2 drugs. I've never had to prove it on a drug screen.
Take care!
- night_shade
--------------------
Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
|
moonbeam
Member
Reged: 05/23/03
Posts: 148
|
|
Let us know how it goes. Good luck.
|
LumbarSpasm
Silent Chaos
Reged: 05/07/02
Posts: 1510
Loc: USA
|
|
My suggestion would have been to call in sick.
Then hydrate, eat red meat or lots of peanut butter. And take a multivitamin. And take an aspirin about 2-4 hours prior to the test.
There are many different tests.
Some don't pick up oxycodone or hydrocodone while others do.
Bummer. Hope it turns out well.
--------------------
LumbarSpasm
Or just a pain in the butt?!
|
prettyday
Veteran
Reged: 02/09/03
Posts: 748
Loc: Coastal Sage Scrub
|
|
hmmm....
Frrst of all if you drink a ton of water before, some tests actually treat THAT as suspect ( intent to dilute?) I have no idea but the vitamin thing is smart if it works. I am glad you have heard that that can be a problem.
Secondly, the doc can only give you as much of a head trip as you let the doc do it.
Many people take a pill in a container or jacket pocket during the time they really might need it and find it months later during an hour of need, but the original bottle may be long gone---you follow?
Sometimes the more one explains the guiltier one looks....since in two or three days the substance will be gone, if it is an issue they can retest then upon your husband's explanation that he was suffering a pain flare...
But---the bummer is that you said it was for a construction job; and will the movement and jolting of this job hurt him again, since he was in so much pain just now? Also, what equipment is he working with?
This is my train of thought; don't feel bad or let him feel bad if they do question him further; I can tell you love each other very much and this is not about character or ability to withstand pain. It is about fulfilling insurance and bond obligations, so don't feel judged no matter what happens.
You know, there are people who eat poppy seeds on everything and they come back positive on tests...I think some employers have gotten so frustrated by this that they actually tried to stipulate certain job holders could not consume poppy seeds so they could not fall back on this as a reason...I bet the right to eat what you choose would be pretttttty quickly upheld... but it just goes to show you that it's not all about what your husband does or doesn't do--it all goes back to budgets, so maybe they won't be that painstaking with the results if they are just trying to get all their paperwork done.
--------------------
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." -Emilano Zapata
|
gummy
Stranger
Reged: 09/06/03
Posts: 8
Loc: California
|
|
Hi Cypress -
I know someone that took a pre screen drug test, drank a bunch of water/cranberry juice, took a vitamin and passed with vicoden in their system - I hope everything works out - please keep us updated!
|
shine
Banned for being unpolite
Reged: 03/16/03
Posts: 128
Loc: California USA
|
|
I hope it is going ok there. I hope and pray that it all works out for you,and your husband...I will keep good thoughts for you. Keep us posted please, best of luck to ya. What a bad deal for you to go through...bye
|
catmom
Enthusiast
Reged: 06/20/03
Posts: 293
Loc: Midwest
|
|
Don't y'all just get fed up with the drug Nazis sometimes? Yes, I understand they have to protect public safety but it's hard to watch good people go through such anguish. Hope all works out, as jobs are not easy to find these days 
--------------------
If it's not immediate, it's not gratification.
|
IMSUSCOT1
Veteran
Reged: 10/23/02
Posts: 733
Loc: usa
|
|
Yes, and they have you come back & re-test.....that's all they can do...they can't prove you deliberately did it...you may have been thirsty that day! The only thing that will happen is the specific gravity will fall below the threashold & they will have him come back again...by then, he should be clean...not the best solution, but A solution.
|
LumbarSpasm
Silent Chaos
Reged: 05/07/02
Posts: 1510
Loc: USA
|
|
Just to clarify, the multivitamin adds the yellow color, the water dilutes the speciman, and the protein increases creatine which is tested for intentional dilution.
I'm not sure it works...but I think it offers a fighting chance. And aspirin throws off some test...I think the EMIT...not sure.
--------------------
LumbarSpasm
Or just a pain in the butt?!
|
cypress434
Old Hand
Reged: 04/14/02
Posts: 421
Loc: The Deep Southern US
|
|
I just wanted to express heartfelt appreciation to all of you who took the time to answer. It means a LOT to me and I hope someday I can do something for you all in return!
My spouse went on a 3 week job a couple of days after the test, and at this new job site, a whole other physical was required. (I'm sure he passed that one with flying colors!)
For the first test, he just drank a liter of water, took OTC vitamins with that stuff in it (creatine? I keep forgetting the name!!!) - whatever it is that they look for low levels of (that shows diluted urine and then they can fail you for *that*, apparently.)
In all the time since my post, not one thing has been said to him about the company's test. I feel like he probably (hopefully) tested neg. OR his levels were so low that they fell below the radar for positive.
He might take something once a year...most of the time he just suffers in silence. I've been on him to get his own OP so that he can get some relief from his own chronic pain, but he's more worried about me getting relief from *mine* that he puts a backseat to himself. A wonderful man, but he deserves relief too, and it's like I have to put a "whoop@ss" on him before he'll do it! Then he wouldn't have to *worry* about drug screens. They might wonder why the scrips come from another state, but he can always say that he sent them off to be filled at a place that was cheaper and he didn't want to use the insurance for something like that. (Boy, what a joke, to say they're CHEAPER, huh?) LMAO
Anyway, so far it looks pretty good, and for those of you who have offered suggestions and those who said a little prayer for my hubby...thanks from the bottom of my heart.
I really appreciate it. There are some wonderful people on this board, and you all are great examples of that.
Thanks again!! 
--------------------
Cypress434
Character is what you do when no one is watching.
|
phlebomom
Stranger
Reged: 09/15/03
Posts: 16
Loc: Ohio
|
|
I used to work for a company that did pre-employment drug screens and they are mostly looking for illeagal drugs such as pot and coke. Like the others said you can tell the drug screen person that you took an opiate that was perscribed to you and they may write it on the paper, but most of the time it is not even mentioned. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Especially if your husband has a good standing record with the company. Good luck. Let us know how it goes. I will say a prayer for you tonight. God bless.
Donna
|
MWouk
Journeyman
Reged: 08/28/03
Posts: 69
Loc: Up & Down I - 95
|
|
Cypress I am relieved for you and your dh that nothing ever came of the screen back when he took the oxy that one night. I have one at home like that and he's nutty about not taking anything so I usually "doctor" him myself(often with his own meds he's so stubborn).
I hope he will get a local prescripton or one from an OP in case this every happens again for the hydro,and keep the bottle for a long time even if he runs out of the meds.
Never know what the future may bring and to have that bottle may come in handy.
I think it's unrealistic for the companies that test to expect anyone in a physically demanding job to not take a pain pill now and then. Your husband having a good record with the company is a plus. Another thing, do not know your ages, but folks older than 40 usually have been through enough life experience where they have at least one old script lying around with a tranquilizer or pain pill in it, particularly men (it seems to me). My dh's dresser is littered with bottles of pills he never finishes.
LumbarSpasm & Cypress, I never knew it was important to have creatinine in urine along with color so this was a good thead. I had only one drug test once and drank 2 liters of water 2-3 hours prior to the test. They did not call me back (10 years ago) but if I had to do it again, I would not have because that much water threw my body into some weird unpleasant reaction, even though I "passed" the test.
Thanks for posting about the peanut butter 
--------------------
MWouk
|
Previous 
Index
Next 
Threaded
HELP PLEASE! Drug Screen in a few hours!! 
Edit 
Reply 
Quote 
Re: HELP PLEASE! Drug Screen in a few hours!! 
Re: HELP PLEASE! Drug Screen in a few hours!! 
Re: HELP PLEASE! Drug Screen in a few hours!! 
Re: HELP PLEASE! Drug Screen in a few hours!!