Can Toradol Show False Positive For Benzodiazepines In A Urine-drug Test?

Posted on Sun, 1 Nov 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 1 Nov 2015 Answered on

Mon, 23 Nov 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I recently had a urine drug test with positive reading for benzodiazepines and Amphetamines. I am a chronic migraine suffer and take ativan, antivert, Toradol IM, Benedryl, Seraquel, Zoloft, Zofran, Zocor, Zyprexia, I also have had a cold and sinus congetion so I have been taking over the counter sinus allergy medication. I on an irrigular basis take Fastin for weight loss. Are any of these drugs able to cause these false-positive results

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (39 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You are taking some meds that could cause positive tests.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

I'm sorry for the trouble you are having.

Ativan (lorazepam) is a benzodiazepine. The reason some places test for benzodiazepines is that they are abused by some people with addictions. However, they are necessary prescription medications for many people.

If any of the over the counter meds for a cold contain pseudo ephedrine, that can possibly cause a positive amphetamine test.

Phentermine (Fastin) will also do this.

So this would explain the positive tests. If you took the urine drug screen for work, perhaps you can get a letter from your prescribing physician stating that you are on medications that will cause positive benzodiazepine and amphetamine tests and that you cannot go off of these medications. Or at least you can't go off of the benzodiazepine.

I hope this information helps.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar