Received Positive Urinalysis For Temazepam. Have Used Only Dietary Supplements. Is It Safe?

Posted on Thu, 19 Sep 2013

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

Thu, 19 Sep 2013 Answered on

Mon, 14 Oct 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : I am in the United States Army and I have just received a positive Urinalysis for temazepam. I do not use prescription medications, and I am wondering how could this be. The only medications I have used are over the counter dietary supplements and your occasional common cold medications. Please help me the military is all I have and I can't get kicked out for something I did not do.

Answered by Dr. Payman Hajiazim (35 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
False positive test is possible.

Detailed Answer:
Hello there, thanks for asking. Over the counter supplements, especially the herbal ones can interact with many tests. Herbal medications have many substances which could cause such a false positive thing. Furthermore, the tests have sensitivity and specificity of below 100 percent. I suggest that you ask them to take another blood sample from you and wait for the result. Let me know if you have any other question. Best of luck.

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

Follow up: Dr. Payman Hajiazim (31 minutes later)

I was notified 45 days after the test was administered, is there anything else that I can do to prove my innocence

Answered by Dr. Payman Hajiazim (12 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
False positive is a thing you can say.

Detailed Answer:
You can mention that it could become positive falsely in small proportion of the tests and ask to repeat it at any time they want.

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