[Slothrop]

I'd like to hear if anyone (in the U.S.) has had experiences with employer drug testing while on psych meds. (I did find a thread from a few years ago...wondering if anyone has any new insights.)

I consider myself very functional and employable at this time. However, I take some serious stimulants (Adderall, Vyvanse) and occasionally take a benzodiazepine (ProSom). And I know drug screens look for amphetamines and benzos!

How will it be handled if (more like WHEN) these substances are detected by the lab?

If I give the lab my list of prescriptions and doctor contact info, will they verify that the meds are legit, and keep the info confidential from the employer?

I would really rather NOT disclose any medical information to the employer itself (not even human resources) unless I believe it's absolutely necessary. I don't plan on requesting an accommodation for a disability at this time. (Luckily, I have never had to in nearly 20 years of employment.)

IMO, it is none of the employer's business if I have a given condition, as long as I am performing up to par. I know how much prejudice there can be toward a psych disorder, no matter what the laws say.

I am considering consulting an employment attorney to understand exactly what my rights are, but would like to hear your experiences first.

[Eleora]

I wouldn't worry about it unless they bring it up. If they do, get your prescribing doctor to write a note maybe explaining the medications you're on, the purpose for them, if they have any effect on your performance, etc - basically, whatever you are comfortable with your employer knowing that will explain why these drugs showed up.

[Catherine2]

Slothrop,
Jme, but if you give the lab the list of your meds and the contact info, you should not have any problem.
All they will verify is if you tested positive/negative for drugs...
Unless it's changed, there is no reason for your drug ingo to be passed on to them.

...but don't eat any poppy seed goodies before the test. I had two friends who tested positive after eating lemon poppy seed muffins..
my daughter sees a pain specialist and he will occasionally test his patients and has told them not to eat anything that contains poppy seeds.

Strange but true

[tracy33]

Apparently when I had a drug test years ago, Human Resources found out, and then the main boss found out because she then asked one of my bosses "Why is she taking Prozac?"
Since that point, I felt like everyone thought and labled me as crazy.

[Slothrop]

Originally Posted by tracy33

Apparently when I had a drug test years ago, Human Resources found out, and then the main boss found out because she then asked one of my bosses "Why is she taking Prozac?"
Since that point, I felt like everyone thought and labled me as crazy.

Yep, exactly what I don't want to happen.

I had the impression that medical privacy ethics and laws were supposed to forbid that transfer of information. I thought the lab was only to tell your HR department about an actual failure of the screen, and that false positives would be suppressed.

But, obviously, people don't always stick to ethics and laws.

Any idea why they would look for Prozac? Usually they're only after commonly abused and illegal drugs. I'm not a lawyer, but an employer digging into your body to determine that you're using Prozac doesn't even sound legal (disability laws and whatnot).

[sunrise]

Slothrop, I'm paranoid about these things and would not want to risk my employer knowing what meds I was taking. If I could handle it, I would stop taking the drugs a week or so before the test. I am on Vyvanse also, and it would be worth it to me to stop it for awhile to avoid detection in the test.

[tracy33]

Well, I was a dummy and listed on the paperwork that I was taking it.

[eskielover]

Originally Posted by Catherine2

Slothrop,
...but don't eat any poppy seed goodies before the test. I had two friends who tested positive after eating lemon poppy seed muffins..
my daughter sees a pain specialist and he will occasionally test his patients and has told them not to eat anything that contains poppy seeds.

Strange but true

Yes, the poppy seed thing is very true.....I also found out that over the counter sleeping pills show up as amphetimines......when I was in outpatient treatment at the local psych hospital....they did drug testing every day.....& I was taking over the counter sleeping meds.....showed up & they wanted to know what it was.....wierd.

Debbie

[Catherine2]

Originally Posted by eskielover

Yes, the poppy seed thing is very true.....I also found out that over the counter sleeping pills show up as amphetimines......when I was in outpatient treatment at the local psych hospital....they did drug testing every day.....& I was taking over the counter sleeping meds.....showed up & they wanted to know what it was.....wierd.
Debbie

Debbie, thank you for sharing this here!
I found out the hard way that the decongestant I was using also tested as speed. In talking with my pharmacist about it, he said that it differs with everyone, but OTC meds will test positive. Add in prescription drugs and you can have some weird things show on your blood panel.

Veering off here a bit, but when I had the osteotomy done, I required more transfusions than expected and the surgeon was stumped...turned out it was the ginkgo and Vitamin E I was taking...it thinned my blood. Since then I've had to stop my supplements and vitamins at least two weeks before any surgery.

Catherine

[Catherine2]

Originally Posted by tracy33

Well, I was a dummy and listed on the paperwork that I was taking it.

Tracy, you weren't being a dummy.
It's my belief you were listening to your instinct.
Jmo, but bottom line is it is a crap shoot. Some employers want to know, others could care less.
We pick up intangible clues about what is the best thing to do for ourselves, maybe it's for the best that we do so.

Catherine

[kaybe]

Hi , I work in the health care field. I am not a nurse , but administrative, You are protected by the HIPPA Laws. Employer Assistance Programs are only to report meds that show up positive without a script of proof. Other wise . The doctor who is giving these meds does not need to go into details about the reasons why you are on the medications.

It's none of their bussiness. He or she only has to note that you are currently taken such, and such , at this time. If you want to consult with a great Legal Lawyer. Morris Fischer , you can find him on the internet. He represented me and I won. He is located in Baltimore Maryland Bethsada . Look him up if you wish. And by all mean's read your employee hand book to be prepared to fight if deemed. In addition, read about the HIPPA LAWS everyone has a right to privacy.

Hopes this help
Brenda




I'd like to hear if anyone (in the U.S.) has had experiences with employer drug testing while on psych meds.
I consider myself very functional and employable at this time. However, I take some serious stimulants (Adderall, Vyvanse) and occasionally take a benzodiazepine (ProSom). And I know drug screens look for amphetamines and benzos!

How will it be handled if (more like WHEN) these substances are detected by the lab?

If I give the lab my list of prescriptions and doctor contact info, will they verify that the meds are legit, and keep the info confidential from the employer?

I would really rather NOT disclose any medical information to the employer itself (not even human resources) unless I believe it's absolutely necessary. I don't plan on requesting an accommodation for a disability at this time. (Luckily, I have never had to in nearly 20 years of employment.)

IMO, it is none of the employer's business if I have a given condition, as long as I am performing up to par. I know how much prejudice there can be toward a psych disorder, no matter what the laws say.

I am considering consulting an employment attorney to understand exactly what my rights are, but would like to hear your experiences first.[/quote]

[Slothrop]

Originally Posted by sunrise

Slothrop, I'm paranoid about these things and would not want to risk my employer knowing what meds I was taking. If I could handle it, I would stop taking the drugs a week or so before the test. I am on Vyvanse also, and it would be worth it to me to stop it for awhile to avoid detection in the test.

I'm with you totally!! This job offer came up suddenly, and it was either take the drug test on short notice or turn down the job. Hopefully I won't get a hassle over my prescriptions. I'm going to report back here when I find out!

[Slothrop]

Originally Posted by tracy33

Well, I was a dummy and listed on the paperwork that I was taking it.

Not your fault, IMO...only the medical officer should have asked you or your physician about specific positive results, and ONLY if they showed up. HR should never have asked for or seen ANY of your meds, especially not a full list!

It seems to me our exact rights can be hard to find, we are not told them when getting the test, and some (not all) employers are more than happy to take advantage of that situation.

[Slothrop]

Thanks kaybe! This is the information I was hoping to hear, it is surprisingly hard to verify this information by googling around. I will read up on the HIPAA laws.

I actually did chat with an employment attorney...even he could not give an exact assessment of my rights without researching my questions. However, he did make the following points to me. (I am not a lawyer, this is not official legal advice!!)

1. Employer drug testing is a broad area of law, therefore it is hard to make general statements about employee rights that apply across the board.
2. Read very carefully the release that you sign! Sometimes the release is vague and releases your employer, the lab, and the medical officer from all kinds of liability! This can put you on the spot, choosing between your job and unreasonable terms.
3. It's a good idea to ask your M.D. and see if they have any input on which of your meds will cause a positive and how the privacy is supposed to be handled.

This really seems like an area where informing employees of their rights should be mandatory! I understand that employers do not want stoned employees on the job...I just think the process should be fair to both parties.

[Slothrop]

Well, after all that fuss I simply took the darned thing and passed it.

I had not taken my amphetamine stimulants (Adderall, Vyvanse) since the day before...there was not time to let them dissipate further, but it apparently would not have been necessary.

The attorney I spoke to said I should not jump to the conclusion that there would be a false positive. How right he was.

Anyhow, from our discussion here I think we can agree...know your rights, read the releases before you sign, and don't disclose information you are not required to.

[Mandocello]

Originally Posted by sunrise

Slothrop, I'm paranoid about these things and would not want to risk my employer knowing what meds I was taking. If I could handle it, I would stop taking the drugs a week or so before the test. I am on Vyvanse also, and it would be worth it to me to stop it for awhile to avoid detection in the test.

In a properly administered drug screen, you should not have a problem. With amphetamine testing, the mix between isomers (left-handed and right-handed versions) of the drugs in question is analyzed. Illicit drugs, like crystal meth, will give a different profile of isomers than Adderal or Vyvanse.

"Positive" results in categories where Rx meds can be involved should be reviewed by a medical review officer and it is that person who may require evidence you have been prescribed meds that would explain the results.

Also, when I have sent applicants out for a screen and they do not pass, I do not get any report as to why or if a MRO was involved, although I could guess based on the delay in receiving results.

Hope that reassures you some.

I missed the most recent post, but maybe this will help someone else. Also, it would not have been a false positive, it is called an innocent positive.

[Slothrop]

Great info, Mandocello. The distinction between isomers is especially helpful. Thanks! (Nice user name, too. I tried one once. Nifty instrument. )

When you say "innocent positive," does that mean a drug has shown up on the screen, but if the MRO finds the usage is OK, no positive at all is reported to the employer?

[Mandocello]

Originally Posted by Slothrop

When you say "innocent positive," does that mean a drug has shown up on the screen, but if the MRO finds the usage is OK, no positive at all is reported to the employer?

It is really just a technicality. A false positive implies something in the test or test process is giving an undesired result, whereas an innocent positive implies nothing is wrong with the test, just that an alternative explanation can account for the positive result.

[Jfs1228]

I'm one of those HR people you don't want to know. We do drug test pre-employment and if someone is involved in a work-related accident that requires medical attention. The lab that we use reports negative tests to us within 24 hours. If someone tests positive for a drug, the lab will contact the person directly to see if it is a prescription drug. If they have a VALID prescription (one written for YOU by your Dr. and not someone else's) the lab reports the test as negative so we never know.

There are laws out there which protect you from your employer finding out you medical information. The Health Insurance Privacy and Portability Act (HIPPA) requires you to sign a waiver if your employer requires medical information. Does every employer follow it? Probably not. Employees are usually open about their issues if they need help resolving a claim or something like that (trust me, people share way more information that I want to know but that's a different story).

My boss knows I'm on anti-depressants. I was concerned until I found out that depression was a chemical imbalance in the brain. So the need for medication is to correct that imbalance. I told him because I wanted him to be aware so he could tell me if he noticed a negative change in my behavior. But I report to the Plant HR Manager who understands the law and I have a good enough relationship with him that I know he'll keep it confidential. Not everyone feels that way so I understand the hesitancy.

BTW - Opium is derived from poppies, so the fact that you eat food with poppy seeds could give a false positive to your drug test.

And even though I'm one of those HR People, I'm not a bad guy! LOL

Joe

[Slothrop]

Thanks for the info, Joe! Nothing against HR people at all...in fact, I've done a lot of work with HRIS, and I'm all for being protected against workplace misbehavior and accidents caused by drugs.

The "Too Much Information" part is key to me. I don't really want to tell HR any more than I have to, since not everyone is understanding and/or ethical. All it takes is one indiscrete person in HR (the kind you hope never gets an HR job!) to leak your private info around the company. From the stories here on Psych Central, it happens sometimes.

It has a lot to do with trust...it is just unnerving with drug testing because you are putting your trust in strangers, who are paid by your employer, to handle your info by the rules.

[KayRivers59]

Taking Effexor sometimes gives a false positive for PCP.

FYI