[kj44]

Does anyone know, if its legal,to work in a group home, while being on the meds I'm on? I shake a lot, and, I'm afraid they will send me for drug test. Some of the clients are on the same meds as me, that's why I wonder. Thanks

[Confusedinomicon]

I think if you're shaking a lot you need to see your pdoc. You may need to adjust your medication because you may be taking too much of something? Or at least double check with them to be sure that it isn't an adverse effect from the medication itself.

I don't think it will be a problem with the group home. If you believe that the group home will be more conductive and non-judgmental you may ask your supervisor.

[Miss Laura]

I would seek advice via a union rep. I was dismiss from my job and I worked with men who all have Autism. I too were on the same meds as them unknown to my managers etc.

Seek advice from union rep

Hoping others will come on with a totally educated answer, but in the meanwhile, my gut says no. Why? Because those aren't the kinds of things they're testing for in a drug test. And, they do have to run specific tests for each thing they are looking for (It's scientifically logical that they would have to do so, and from anecdotal info derived from someone telling me that there is one that is more expensive for them to test for and so many times they don't. Never mind how I know that. )

(Interesting timing on your question, because I've had a similar one myself lately! I don't know if one of the meds I take might read as something they would be looking for, and since I'm looking for a job and so many of them say there's a test...yeah. I've never had to take one before, and even if I had, it's a med new to my mix.)

[~Christina]

If you have alot of shaking please contact your pdoc .. there are lots of meds that dont cause that and also some you can take to counteract the shaking ..

Personally and this is just my opinion I would not disclose to my employer anything ,,If they were to drug test you ,, you list ALL your medications to the lab and give them your pharmacy info .. If any of thing pops up they confirm that you are legally taking it by calling the pharmacy and your employer will get a result back that says your clean . You employer has no legal right to get into your medical buisness .. HIPPA as im sure your aware of for your job ,, also protects you .

Just my opinion ~
Good Luck

[kj44]

Originally Posted by Confusedinomicon

I think if you're shaking a lot you need to see your pdoc. You may need to adjust your medication because you may be taking too much of something? Or at least double check with them to be sure that it isn't an adverse effect from the medication itself.

I don't think it will be a problem with the group home. If you believe that the group home will be more conductive and non-judgmental you may ask your supervisor.

I have been taking less Lithium, I'm sure that's the culprit. Dr. doesn't know yet, but, my appt. isn't until March. Where I work most, are judgemental, you would be surprised what you hear! It's awful!

Originally Posted by morethingswrong

,,If they were to drug test you ,, you list ALL your medications to the lab and give them your pharmacy info .. If any of thing pops up they confirm that you are legally taking it by calling the pharmacy and your employer will get a result back that says your clean . You employer has no legal right to get into your medical buisness .. HIPPA as im sure your aware of for your job ,, also protects you ...

Yea for HIPPA! Not to sidetrack, but, not all samples are actually taken at the lab. (Don't know if this is kosher, but it happens nonetheless.) How would the med list get to the lab in a situation like that with assurance it was not looked at? (Guess who has trust issues...)

[kj44]

Originally Posted by Innerzone

Hoping others will come on with a totally educated answer, but in the meanwhile, my gut says no. Why? Because those aren't the kinds of things they're testing for in a drug test. And, they do have to run specific tests for each thing they are looking for (It's scientifically logical that they would have to do so, and from anecdotal info derived from someone telling me that there is one that is more expensive for them to test for and so many times they don't. Never mind how I know that. )

(Interesting timing on your question, because I've had a similar one myself lately! I don't know if one of the meds I take might read as something they would be looking for, and since I'm looking for a job and so many of them say there's a test...yeah. I've never had to take one before, and even if I had, it's a med new to my mix.)

Thanks for that info! I hope your test comes out good. I actually take more Ativan then the people I take care of, kind of weird. I'm perfectly good on it though, I'm just too hyper without it!! Thats the med, I thought they may look for.

Originally Posted by kj44

Thanks for that info! I hope your test comes out good. I actually take more Ativan then the people I take care of, kind of weird. I'm perfectly good on it though, I'm just too hyper without it!! Thats the med, I thought they may look for.

Heh. I haven't taken one yet. Though they kind of scare me (unfamiliar territory and all), the upside would mean I actually had a job offer, lol. Yeah, you know, I have wondered about my benzos too (Xanax), but just a bit. Not nearly as much as my Adderall!

[~Christina]

in response to a drug test at work .... The lab processing the test ...If anything POPS up they call you get a list of your medications and pharmacy info and verify them ,, if all that showwed up are legally scripted for you .. the test comes back negative ...

I use to work in a nursing home ..lift lift lift all day some very obese patients ,, Yes my back would kill me ,i workled 6 outta 7 days ALL 12 hour shifts! My personal doctor gave me a script for loratab and flexiril to use when the pain was too much to handle .. about 6 months later i did hurt my back on the job due to workers comp laws i had to go for a drug test yes my loratab and flexiril showed up ,,but the lab called me to verify any meds i was on i gave them info they called walmart to verify and Boom i had a clean drug test.

[BuggsBunny]

Originally Posted by Innerzone

Yea for HIPPA! Not to sidetrack, but, not all samples are actually taken at the lab. (Don't know if this is kosher, but it happens nonetheless.) How would the med list get to the lab in a situation like that with assurance it was not looked at? (Guess who has trust issues...)

You don't give the med list to the person taking the sample if it's not at a lab or an independent agency. What happened to me (and granted this was over 10 years ago) was that the lab called called me, asking for my pharmacy information. All they did was verify I had a script for that one drug. They were not even allowed to ask why I was taking it, and when I offered to tell them (it was a pain killer) they said no. They were not allowed to ask. None of my psych drugs showed up on the test.

[AniManiac]

Originally Posted by Innerzone

Hoping others will come on with a totally educated answer, but in the meanwhile, my gut says no. Why? Because those aren't the kinds of things they're testing for in a drug test. And, they do have to run specific tests for each thing they are looking for

True.

I just had testing yesterday - they ordered a "complete drug screen" which tests for 7 common substances. Definitely more expensive than a single-substance test, but my insurance is paying, not me. Anyone worried about the very most common of those substances - ironically the least harmful and most likely to have medical benefit, which also sticks around in the body the longest because it's not water-soluble - can get a home test at the pharmacy. All other illegals are relatively quick to flush from the system.

They absolutely do have to test for exactly what they're looking for. I'll test positive for amphetamines but they're prescribed, so it's OK. Therein lies the catch - if they're going to do a drug screen and your Rx's can cause a positive result (ADD stimulants, painkilling opiates) then you'd have to disclose that in advance. But only the ones that would make you test positive, and I do believe it's illegal for them to discriminate on the basis of the Rx's you take.

[AniManiac]

Originally Posted by Innerzone

Yea for HIPPA! Not to sidetrack, but, not all samples are actually taken at the lab.

So this depends on how strict the testing situation is. For something like a court-ordered test, it's really strict - there's a "chain of custody" thing where they have to document who's had their hands on the sample or some such nonsense. Some employer-mandated tests are like that.

For me, it was pee in a cup and put it through a little window direct to the lab, but no complicated business about it. Lucky, because I could get all the lab work done at my uni health center, where they also have enough of my health records (albeit not the most current Rx's) to know that I've taken Adderall forever and a day.

[lad007]

I used to manage a Group Home, and it would depend on your company policy as far as the drug testing. And again if they did request testing they won't be looking for Lithium. A lot of people take Ativan so those aren't the kinds of things they would be looking for.
If you are doing your job, it shouldn't be an issue. If you are worried about the shaking and someone notices you could just say you take medication and sometimes you shake. You don't have to tell them what it is, a lot of people take medications for blood pressure or whatever. You could even say your blood sugar is low and that's why you shake.
I think it is wonderful you are working in the group home and helping others, we are in a unique position to help others with disabilities as we understand.
Try not to worry about it so much, and enjoy your job a little!

[kj44]

Originally Posted by morethingswrong

in response to a drug test at work .... The lab processing the test ...If anything POPS up they call you get a list of your medications and pharmacy info and verify them ,, if all that showwed up are legally scripted for you .. the test comes back negative ...

I use to work in a nursing home ..lift lift lift all day some very obese patients ,, Yes my back would kill me ,i workled 6 outta 7 days ALL 12 hour shifts! My personal doctor gave me a script for loratab and flexiril to use when the pain was too much to handle .. about 6 months later i did hurt my back on the job due to workers comp laws i had to go for a drug test yes my loratab and flexiril showed up ,,but the lab called me to verify any meds i was on i gave them info they called walmart to verify and Boom i had a clean drug test.

Thanks for that, very informative! I'm not going to worry about it anymore. Sorry you got hurt, I understand, I have a shoulder issue right now. No worries for me today!

[kj44]

Thanks everyone!!! I feel better now!