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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by grammy on October 26, 2005, at 21:45:53
Do anti-depressants like Cymbalta show up in a pre-employment drug screening test? I'd rather not divulge that I'm on them to my potential employer.
Posted by Racer on October 27, 2005, at 0:39:03
In reply to Drug Screening and Anti-depressants, posted by grammy on October 26, 2005, at 21:45:53
This has come up here a lot, so do a quick search on drug testing to read some of the other threads on teh subject.
Bottom line, though, is that employers have to pay to have the tests done, and they don't want to pay extra. There's a little bit of wiggle room with HIPAA, but generally speaking your prescription drugs are not gonna be looked for. And make no mistake: they have to look for a drug. Those tests are not passive, most are quite specific to the drugs being tested for.
My question, though, on the same lines, is whether Dexadrine would show up on a test like this? Of course, if it did, and it was prescribed, that shouldn't be a problem.
{shrug} Good luck, either way. You can be assured, though, that they won't be testing for Cymbalta.
Posted by med_empowered on October 27, 2005, at 8:32:58
In reply to Only if they look for them. » grammy, posted by Racer on October 27, 2005, at 0:39:03
now and then RX stuff will show up on drug tests. Either they're testing for it (sometimes they test for barbiturates and benzos; amphetamines will almost always show a positive), or it makes a "false positive" (ex: stimulant diet pills will show up as amphetamine or methamphetamine). So...if you're just taking cymbalta, if you show up positive for something it probably just means there's a false positive or some sort of lab error.
Posted by Phillipa on October 27, 2005, at 20:20:49
In reply to Re: Only if they look for them., posted by med_empowered on October 27, 2005, at 8:32:58
I understand your concern with not wanting to divuldge your medication. But just bring your medication bottles with you. It's privately run and only abused drugs will divulged to your employer. And you wouldn't belive all the peoplel on Ad's out there. Half the people I used to work with were on some sort of med or other. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by grammy on October 27, 2005, at 22:26:59
In reply to Re: Only if they look for them., posted by Phillipa on October 27, 2005, at 20:20:49
I am on Cymbalta and Temazepam (for sleep) and Tranxene (when needed for anxiety). I am thinking about getting back on Xanax XR instead of the Tranxene. These are all prescribed by my p-doc. Are you saying if I take my bottles that are prescriptions, my employer will not know what medications I am on? I know you're right about so many people being on anti-depressants but I don't think it's anyone's business.
Posted by Phillipa on October 27, 2005, at 22:34:47
In reply to Re: Only if they look for them., posted by grammy on October 27, 2005, at 22:26:59
Grammy I agree with you completely. But unless they have changed policies as long as you have a legitamate prescription for a med you are okay. I was always told to bring my prescription bottles with me. And I was a nurse. And no one every said anything to me. I really think they test only for mindaltering meds in high enough doses to interfere with your work. I believe your employer would only be notified if things were out of the normal range. I was on xanax last time I took one and nothing was ever said. And half the nurses I worked with were on antidepressants. The only way I knew this was we talked with each other about it. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Simcha on October 31, 2005, at 0:53:10
In reply to Drug Screening and Anti-depressants, posted by grammy on October 26, 2005, at 21:45:53
They only come up if the panel they use asks for that kind of screening. Most employers don't bother to include these drugs in a drug screening panel.
I know that you would rather your potential future employer never know that you are taking medications.
When I went in for my pre-employment physical with a Children's Mental Health Provider, I listed my medications because I did not want them to question me if they were included in a drug screening panel. I also thought that if they discriminated against those who sought treatment for mental illness, I wanted to know BEFORE I was employed by them. That way if they were to somehow find out later that I was on medications, then I would know what to expect from them.
Since they hired me anyway, I now know that they do not discriminate against those of us who seek treatment for mental illnesses and I don't fear them learning "my little secret." Then again, I also use the same tactic when it comes to testing the waters to see if a potential employer discriminates against homosexuals. I ask some key questions in the interview to make it clear what I'm asking and I make decisions about accepting employment later based on the answers I get.
Simcha
Posted by Cecilia on November 1, 2005, at 3:27:16
In reply to Re: Drug Screening and Anti-depressants » grammy, posted by Simcha on October 31, 2005, at 0:53:10
That makes sense, Simcha, though I suppose it depends too on how badly someone needs the job. If it`s a choice between working for a bigot or eating out of dumpsters most people will choose the former! Cecilia
This is the end of the thread.
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