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Pharmacy/false postive drug test

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Expert: Dr Alan Galbraith - 3/20/2009


Question
I recently was given prescription of loratadine & pseudoephedrine from my doctor, I was drug tested 4 days later and the blood test results were detected for amphetamine, could you please state if this would cause me to have a false postive for drugs.

Answer
Dear Denise

It is possible that pseudoephedrine could show up as an amphetamine in a routine analysis as they are structurally similar. Ian a precise analysis there should be no discrepancy. I would ask for a repeat and more accurate analysis and also tell them (with proof) that you had been medically prescribed pseudoephedrine.

Regards

Dr Alan Galbraith

Pharmacy

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Dr Alan Galbraith

Expertise

I can answer most questions on most drugs. Answers can be given in either technical or layperson terminology. My main areas of interest are psychiatric, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular drugs.

Experience

I have been a university lecturer/head of department for almost thirty years, but am now retired. My research interests were alcohol, smoking and cardiovascular disease.

Organizations
Institute of Biology, London.


Publications
Author of "Fundamentals of Pharmacology" 5th Edition published in November 2007 by Pearson Education, Australia.

Education/Credentials
BSc(Hons);MSc;PhD;MIBiol; Cert Biol; HECert

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