Expert: Dr Alan Galbraith - 6/19/2009

Question
My friend keeps testing positive for amphetamines and swears she isn't using meth.  She claims her doctor said that her Wellbutrin will cause her to test positive for methane.  I was told that the only way a person tests positive for amphetamine is if they are using it.  That no other medication will make it show up as amphetamine. Can you help?

Answer
Dear Leah

Bupropion (Wellbutrin) should not cause a positive test fotr methamphetamine. You are correct in your assumption that only the use o amphetamines should show positive for amphetamines. However, many laboratories in trhe US are sub-standard and frequently turn out both false positives and negatives. It is time the government stepped in to asssess the competence of this testing which has become big business due to the paranoia of employers. I know of no other country so paranoid about testing its innocent citizens without due reason.

Look at the answers on this site and you'll see numerous of similar questions (all originating from the US) and gven similar answers by diffferent experts.

Sorry I cannot be of more help.

Regards

Dr Alan Galbraith