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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Could Using Combination Of Pain Killers And Cold Medicines Cause Positive Result In Drug Test?

i have been taking the same meds forever but including some cold meds now and my dr did a routine drug test because i am on a lot pain meds. this time it came out positive. i am shocked to say the least !!could a combination of my meds cause this?
Mon, 27 Apr 2015
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
You did not say what the drug test was positive for. If you are taking a lot of pain meds, then it will always be positive if they are narcotics. If some other drug was detected, it is possible it was from the cold medicines. Many of these have decongestants which are similar to amphetamines, so they might give you a positive test for amphetamines. It is important to tell your doctor or the people taking the drug test all the medicines you're taking, including over the counter medicines, so they know it might be from that if the test comes back positive. Hope this helps.
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Could Using Combination Of Pain Killers And Cold Medicines Cause Positive Result In Drug Test?

You did not say what the drug test was positive for. If you are taking a lot of pain meds, then it will always be positive if they are narcotics. If some other drug was detected, it is possible it was from the cold medicines. Many of these have decongestants which are similar to amphetamines, so they might give you a positive test for amphetamines. It is important to tell your doctor or the people taking the drug test all the medicines you re taking, including over the counter medicines, so they know it might be from that if the test comes back positive. Hope this helps.