Drug test question for prescribed medications

Discussion in 'Driver Health' started by mclonghorn215, May 4, 2020.

  1. mclonghorn215

    mclonghorn215 Bobtail Member

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    Hey guys, I'm considering a career shift to trucking later this year or possibly further out depending on how the current economic situation progresses.

    I know this is likely company specific, but in general if you provide a list of prescribed medications and a note from a doctor stating you are no longer prescribed a banned medication, would companies take that into account if you did fail a DOT drug test for the remnants of the banned medication in your system? Or is it typically a black and white pass/fail scenario, regardless of the reasons for the failed test?

    A prescription I take is banned for drivers and I wouldn't keep taking it if I did switch industries as it wouldn't really be necessary in this line of work. However, it'd be difficult to stop taking it for 2-3 months prior to leaving my current career without seeing a negative impact on my performance.

    Thank you for your time!
     
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  3. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    You either pass or fail the drug test.
    A note from a doctor won't help for a banned medication.
    Many companies doing hair follicle test now, so need to be clean for a few months and get a short cut. Let it grow back out long enough to have about an inch or inch and one half because that's what's required for the hair follicle drug test.
    May have to deal with a negative impact on your current career performance. That won't matter when you change to a trucking career. It might matter if you were already in a trucking career and just wanting to change companies, but otherwise, it's not important.
     
    Last edited: May 4, 2020
  4. Scooter HBG

    Scooter HBG Light Load Member

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    Is there any way to find out if a prescribed med is on the NO list?
    Specifically "Ultram"
    Generic: "Tramadol"
     
  5. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Last edited: May 4, 2020
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  6. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    Here is the DEA Drug List pertaining to DOT. Usually Schedule one is banned automatically no ifs buts or maybes.

    Schedules two through three generally disqualify a CDL driver until cleared by doctor to drive again after a period of time since last dose.

    Schedule Five is irrevelant, has been retired since the 70's a example of schedule V would be immodium, it contains a active drug known to stop the activity of your gut for loose bowel stopping due to bad water, food etc. Addicts use massive amounts to halt withdrawals potentially killing off their own intestines for a interesting death by starvation.

    I think Tramadol metabolizes into Morphine at the liver into your blood as waste and I am not familiar with Ultram. I ill have to look it up.

    Trucking DOT drug tests is a panel. Upon detection its a absolute hot positive. Pass or Fail. YOU DO NOT WANT a hot positive ever, if so you will be assigned to the excluding list on the new Clearinghouse CDLIS and you essentially will have become unhireable at any federal motor carrier anywhere in the USA for life.

    There is a SAP you can complete at your expense over a long time but you are essentially suffering huge economic losses anyway. You will learn to take up a different occupation.

    When I was a pain patient I had kept a driver and a car on hire and never drove myself as drugged, in this state you lose your vehicle and it's title forever whatever and whoever it's ownership and payment status and you are automatically fined 10,000 to start off with court imposed fees and other fees for your own punishment to come.

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR)
     
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  7. 8thnote

    8thnote Road Train Member

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    Methedone is not tested for on a DOT drug test. Its very rare that a company's hair test will test for it either. The test for methedone is a very specific one. Outside of the random drug tests at your clinic, it is extremely rare for any other type of drug test to test for methedone.
     
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  8. mclonghorn215

    mclonghorn215 Bobtail Member

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    Thanks @Chinatown, that's what I figured. I would be "clean" for at least a month prior to testing, so likely all would be fine, but who really knows.

    My understanding is the actual DOT test is a urine test and hair follicle tests aren't officially accepted at this time, at least that's what the government site seems to indicate. Unfortunately most of the links on there are broken so you can't find an explicit answer for the current government testing standards.

    But companies seem to differ on the type of test they offer and it seems most are a hair follicle test. Though with companies it seems you should have a chance to explain yourself if your test pops, since the testing company should reach out to ask about any prescriptions you're on that may explain the negative. I guess my main concern is the dirty test being logged in whatever that new DOT Clearinghouse database is, but if the urine test is all that goes in there I think I'm fine.

    Just trying to start wrapping my head around the potential transition headaches. I'm fortunate to have a good job currently, and don't want to disrupt that to just flame out before I can even get started trucking for a prescription I'm not even on anymore.
     
  9. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    If you flunk the hair follicle test; it's over.
    @Moose1958 probably knows the details on that.
     
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  10. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    You will find the MRO to be a ##### or a #######. No "Get a chance to explain" you will be hauled up to the principle office like a school boy and assigned punishment if you are unable to produce a medical explaination for that drug whatever it is to the MRO's satisfaction. Usually from your prescribing doctor backed by a letter stating you do not have anymore prescribing and should be cleared to drive. You are not going to find doctors willing to write such a letter. Most of mine wont. They want no part of drugs and have gotten out of it.

    Many companies have gotten rather hard too. Aww hes a good ol boy let it go.. Oh no.

    Fortunately the DOT Panel test is a rather... "Coarse" one hunting 5 or 7 drugs in particular and miss most of everything else unless it happens to be close to any of the 5 or 7 being hunted.

    Regarding hair, you cannot risk it. If that hair is hot, thats it. You are finished before you have a chance to blubber.. but but but....
     
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  11. mclonghorn215

    mclonghorn215 Bobtail Member

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    Really appreciate you listing that @x1Heavy. I'd gone through that list before to confirm Adderall (the prescription in question for ADHD) is Schedule II and banned, but it does look like a doctors note stating I'm no longer prescribed it or taking it would clarify a positive test and hopefully not lead to an automatic ban for drugs. I'm planning to be off it for at least 1-2 months before starting anyways, hopefully longer if I can manage it.
     
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