These 10 Medications Can Cause a False Positive on Drug Tests
Key takeaways:
-
Some medications can cause “false positive” results on a urine drug test. This means the test shows the presence of certain substances or medications you haven’t actually taken.
-
Antidepressants, decongestants, and dextromethorphan (an ingredient in Robitussin, Delsym) are examples of medications that can cause false positive results.
-
If you think you’ve had a false positive result on a urine drug test, talk to your healthcare provider. They may be able to run a second test to confirm whether these results are accurate or not.
A drug test can detect the presence of certain medications and substances. The most common type of drug test is a urine test. Unfortunately, inaccurate results on drug tests can happen.
For instance, a “false positive” is when a drug test shows the presence of a medication or substance that you aren't actually taking. But how does this happen?
Sometimes a false positive can be the result of a laboratory error. But more often, certain medications are the cause of a false positive result. Below we'll review a few that might have this effect.
What’s a urine drug test?
Before we get into the medications that can cause a false positive result, let’s discuss what a urine drug test is and why you might have one. Urine drug tests look for the presence of specific substances. This includes prescription medications or certain illegal substances.
There are many reasons you might get a urine drug screen. They include:
-
If you’re prescribed a controlled substance like opioids. Your healthcare provider may request a urine drug test to make sure there aren’t other substances in your system that could be dangerous when combined with opioids.
-
If it’s part of a job interview process. Some companies may ask potential hires to complete a drug screening.
-
If it’s an employer-mandated screening. Just like with job interviews, some employers may require their employees to complete drug tests every so often.
-
If it’s part of a medical work-up. Urine drug tests can be a common part of an evaluation in an emergency department. They’re also common during mental health evaluations.