Will My Prescription Medication Show Up on My Drug Test?

Prescription medications are a large part of many people's lives, helping with chronic diseases, pain control, and inflammation. Narcotic pain medications and other controlled substances are some of the medications you may be taking to manage specific conditions.

Whether you have a drug screen at random or occasionally as you're trying to fight substance abuse, it’s a way to evaluate whether you're taking any illegal substances. But what if you're taking controlled substances under a provider’s prescription?

A drug screen is one of the many options the team at Prudent Medical Providers offers at their offices in Federal Way and Tacoma, Washington. If you're trying to overcome substance abuse or need a drug test for work, Sarah Phillips, DNP, APRN, and Jorein Teves, MSN, ARNP, FNP-C, provide a quick and efficient drug screen.

Understanding a drug test

Drug tests are diagnostic tools that check for illicit substances in the body. Methods include testing urine, hair, and blood. However, urine drug testing is the easiest and most commonly used.

You may need a drug screen for new employment, after an accident at work, or to check for illicit substances when dealing with substance abuse disorder. Different tests check for different drugs, but our most common screenings are for these 10 substances:

• Marijuana
• Opioids
• Cocaine
• Amphetamines
• Barbiturates
• Benzodiazepines
• PCP
• Methadone
• Propoxyphene
• Methaqualone

If necessary, we can also screen for nicotine. These drug screens do have limitations, though. Some drugs are only detectable for a certain amount of time, depending on the type of drug and how much you use.

What shows up on a drug screen?

Drug screens can't discriminate, of course, so they show both prescription drugs and illicit substances. A 10-panel drug screen shows all of the common medications that people use and abuse, including prescription pills.

Also, you may have a prescription for medications like codeine, oxycodone, and lorazepam, but they may still show on your drug test.

What happens if prescriptions show up?

So what do you do when prescription drugs show up on your drug test? It's common to worry about your next steps.

The good news is we offer in-house drug screens with results available the same day. The process is beneficial if you're in a recovery program and need to know your results as soon as possible to stay on track.

If your positive drug screening is because of prescription medications, you just need to produce the prescription from your doctor.

However, if you’re taking someone else's medications, your employer or recovery program may have further questions and testing. To ensure accurate results, it's crucial to be honest about what you've been taking.

The following steps after a drug screen

We can send the results to your potential employer, or to your specific program if you’re going through a recovery regimen.

If you need a drug screen, don't hesitate to call Prudent Medical Providers today to schedule an appointment. You can also request a consultation using our convenient online scheduling tool.