AboutNigel Simmons Expertise I am happy to answer general questions on medicines and hospital care. If possible, please use approved / chemical names rather than brands which are not internationally recognised.
Like all health professionals I am bound by a duty of care which prevents me giving detailed information about medication or treatment of people other than the questioner.
I will endeavour to help wherever possible or point towards more appropriate advice. If however your question crosses too far into patient confidentiality, I hope you will understand why I cannot answer your question.
Consider.. would you want me to discuss your care with a friend or relative without your knowledge?
Experience Registered as a UK pharmacist in 1982 and have worked in a number of hospital and health management posts around the UK. Formerly Chief Pharmacist for a 440 bed general hospital in Cambridgeshire.
Past/Present clients Previously Sysop on CompuServe UK Professionals forum.
Question My wife was recently drug tested for a job and she lost the job because her test came back positive for serax(Oxazepam) Benzodiazepines at 304 ng/ml. I know for a fact that she has never taken or even heard of Serax....but she does have a prescription for Xanax (Alprazolam) that she has been on for years due to Fybromyalgia. I have researched the internet and she has called her doctor due to this and even the doctor said that xanax can cause another Benzodiazepine to show up. Would like to know what your thoughts were on this. Very frustrating for her to lose a great job she has been wanting for years over a false positive drug test......especially when she has a prescription for a benzodiazepine. Can Xanax cause this false positive? Thank you
Answer Russell
I suspect that the test your wife was picked up with was testing for benzodiazepines in general, rather than one drug in particular. Even if the testers say it is oxazepam, it's quite likely that diazepam, nitrazepam and alprazolam (Xanax) would all give a positive result. More precise laboratory analysis would be needed to show any difference.
As the test is looking for the common part of the chemical structure for all benzodiazepines, I'm afraid it cannot be described as a false positive result.
Having taken and failed the test, it may not be possible to recover the situation with respect to this job, though it may be worth trying and offering the employer medical evidence that the Xanax was being used legally under medical supervision. Likewise, it would be advisible to have a suitable (recent) document to show to prospective employers before taking any test.
Ultimately the employer will have the final decision and for some jobs they may consider that any benzodiazepine use would be unacceptable. However for others it may be acceptable with justification and possibly supervision by a company health specialist.
My recommendation would be to be up front and honest in discussions with all employers and get an understanding of their policy. In most cases they are avoiding drug misuse, but understandably an airline or rail company would want to avoid anyone who may (event without their knowning) be compromised by the sedative effects of benzodiazipines. Some may be more understanding as there are legitimate reasons for using benzodiazepines and it is at least morally wrong to discriminate against someone being treated for one condition, while accepting use of beta blockers for another. Ultimately though it is the employer's call.
