walker
Stranger
Reged: 10/20/02
Posts: 5
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Does anyone know if Sonata will be found on a blood test? If so I'm screwed. If anyone knows your help would be greatly appreciated.
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summer
Veteran
Reged: 05/21/02
Posts: 563
Loc: East Coast
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I don't know your situation, so I'm sorry if I'm off base, but Sonata is a legal sleeping aid prescribed by Dr's. If you're having a work urine done that's all that needs to be said, or if you have no DOC recs you can say you borrowed 1 from a relative to get a good night sleep or something.
Somebody else on this board will definatley be able to show you a link to how long this lastts in your body. I don't thhink very long though because it's a very "mild" med
JMHO-
Summmer
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poth38
Newbie
Reged: 02/11/03
Posts: 28
Loc: Fly-Over country
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Sonata is a nonbenzodiazepine so it will not show up on a routine test.
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walker
Stranger
Reged: 10/20/02
Posts: 5
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This isn't routine I received a DUI for driving after taking two of these accidently. I meant to take another medication that looks a lot like them.
What I'm wondering is if there is anyway to test for this specific drug. I know they can't with urine tests but I don't know with blood.
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keystone
Veteran
Reged: 09/05/02
Posts: 587
Loc: Arizona, USA
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Sonata has a VERY short half life (blood detection levels) So unless you popped one within 4 or 5 hours of the test...YOU ARE FINE.
About saying you borrowed one from a friend....uh, no. It's a controlled substance and that is illegal. Sorry to step on toes.
Are you taking cimetadine? If no, then you are OK. cimetadine doubles a drugs half life therefore theoretically making it detectable next day but...who even knows WHAT they are testing for.
I really wouldn't worry.
Interesting though about getting a DUI on Sonata. If you don't mind (I am just curious) how did you get busted? please don't admit guilt if your case is open, just if you are done w/ the court thing. I am wondering how the cop would know you just weren't really tired and how he pinpointed sleeping meds
KS
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The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was to convince the world he never existed.
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walker
Stranger
Reged: 10/20/02
Posts: 5
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It was probably within 4-5 hours when the test was done. I'm not taking cimetadine unless it's in something that I take and not aware of. They didn't pin-point that I was on sleeping meds I just failed a field sobriety test. I will note that I do have a prescription for sonata so thats not a problem but I live in a state that aggresivly prosecutes DUI no matter what your on. I still am not convinced myself that I took the Sonata if I did it was an accident.
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Trampy
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/02/02
Posts: 1239
Loc: Southwest U.S.
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Quote:
It was probably within 4-5 hours when the test was done. I'm not taking cimetadine unless it's in something that I take and not aware of. They didn't pin-point that I was on sleeping meds I just failed a field sobriety test. I will note that I do have a prescription for sonata so thats not a problem but I live in a state that aggresivly prosecutes DUI no matter what your on. I still am not convinced myself that I took the Sonata if I did it was an accident.
They won't test for your Sonata blood levels unless you tell them you're taking the drug. It won't show up on the routine tests for benzodiazepines. This is one more reason for people to heed the Miranda Warning.
If they found clinically significant levels of Sonata in your blood you can be convicted of DUI even if you have a prescription. Sonata should not be taken before driving.
Taking it by mistake is probably not a valid DUI defense, especially if you failed the field sobriety test. And telling the court you don't remember if you took it is not going to look good. Lack of sleep would be a better excuse.
Trampy
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Your mileage may vary ...
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plotinus
Enthusiast
Reged: 09/16/03
Posts: 277
Loc: California
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>> Taking it by mistake is probably not a valid DUI defense, especially if you failed the field sobriety test.
In the absence of an identified substance on a breat/blood/urine test, you can still be convicted of DUI or atleast reckless driving based on the FST and officer's observation of your driving behavior. In most cases, ADA will deal, but some may have a "hard on" for DUI and demand more detailed analysis of your blood/urine sample.
When I was a PO, who played Bridge with both PD's and ADA's, common speculation was what were you on, if blood test was "negative," but officer observed erratic driving.
Another debate was which was best test to take to beat a DUI: breath always registers high, if you been drinking recently (even mouth wash can trigger it); but it has no permanent sample to examine for other drugs.
Blood is most accurate, but leaves permanent specimin for additional tests for other drugs.
Urine is usually lowest, unless it's been several hours since you consumed, but again it leaves permanent sample to test for other substances.
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"War on ...." is the wrong metaphor!
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Dasani
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/29/03
Posts: 286
Loc: FL
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You will not be convicted because you failed a field sobriety test. That FST was designed as a precursor to breath or chemical testing of a suspect, so that LE can show probable cause to detain you and have you submit to a blood, breath or urine test. None of these aforementioned tests will show presence of Sonata, therefore, unless you were under the influence of alcohol or another illegal substance at the time you submitted to the chemical testing, you will be fine and the Sonata will not show up on the test. Besides, with a valid prescription, who cares. Those things on the bottle are called "warning labels", not laws. You can't be convicted for not following the medications warning label. Worst case scenario, you will be sternly advised by the judge not to do that anymore. If you have been forthcoming with the whole story, all you have done is violated the "stupid law" and maybe the "cranial/rectal inversion law" (that's driving with your head up your a__, neither of which are against the law or we would have all been arrested and convicted at some point in our life. Best of luck to you!
D
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Dasani
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/29/03
Posts: 286
Loc: FL
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Now the bad news! If you did use any type of detectable illegal substance prior to your test, you will be convicted for that, regardless of the amount present in your system. Unlike alcohol, there is no legal limit for narcotics or any other illegal substance, they must only show detectable presence. On the other hand, there is no ingredient in Sonata that will show up on any Federal or State approved blood test used by law enforcement to determine whether or not you were Driving Under The Influence or Alcohol and/or Drugs. Good luck.
D
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walker
Stranger
Reged: 10/20/02
Posts: 5
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I had not taken any other narcotic or alcohol for at least a week prior which was lortab so I don't think that will be a problem.
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Dasani
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/29/03
Posts: 286
Loc: FL
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Unless you ingested a whole bottle a week prior to that and you weigh 90 pounds, I don't see it being a problem either. The hypnotic ingredient in Sonata is Dolpidex (sp?) and it is undetectable in blood and urine tests. Besides, if you look at the package insert under precautions, it only says to "use caution when driving or operating heavy machinery", it doesn't say "do not drive or operate heavy machinery" You'll be fine, just remember, most cases are won by the prosecution through a plea agreement, so if you get a decent attorney, you will have no problem beating this should it even go to trial. In fact, I would say that this case is so benign that a public defender could probably get it taken care of for you, with minimal funds involved. I would also say that you have a pretty good case for a civil suit against the LE department that arrested you as well. Definitely talk to an attorney about that one. Don't sweat it! Good luck. PM me if you want some more good information about this. I worked Narcotics for a loooooonnnnggggg time.
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CHEESE
Veteran
Reged: 01/02/02
Posts: 569
Loc: U.S.A.
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I TAKE A 7 PANEL(I THINK???)DRUG TEST FOR MY WORK AND THINGS LIKE AMBIEN AND SONATA ,SOMA ,ATARAX ,AND A FEW OTHERS DO NOT SHOW UP. (BUT I KNOW THEY TEST FOR BENZO'S ) CHEESE
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