Anti-depresents & Trucking

Actually, the posters are correct, they will not show up as an "illegal substance" since you do have a legal prescription...HOWEVER..your company will be informed and they "may" (and that's a big "IF") not want you to drive on anti-depressants. How do I know ? Short story-Bad divorce-counseling-anti-depressants, company chose to put me on "light duty", but still continued to pay me my 40 hours a week until I was off all meds.

 

You should be ok. Though you do want to get a doctor's note saying that the medicine will not affect your ability to drive a big rig.

I would say though, if you can safely, getting off some of the medications would benefit you greatly.

 

This is a common problem because most testing places will not take any information on what prescriptions you are taking. They should not anyway. The way it is laid out is you take the test and if any positives show up the MRO is required to investigate. He or she will contact the individual and ask if they are taking any prescription medications. They will ask to either see the bottle or the script. If you have them and it's not a disqualifying drug everyone is happy.

What I would do in this case is full disclosure. I would start with the doctor that is giving the DOT physical and tell him or her that you are taking these meds. Then I would go to the MRO (company doctor) and tell him or her. That should cover that. This is a medical item and you should be protected from any disclosure to any outside office or department unless you signed a waiver. This may seem unnecessary but you really have to cover your butt. You do this in case of an accident and you find yourself sitting on the witness stand. You could find yourself up the creek if you don't.

 

Thanks for correcting me. It has been ten years since I took one. I thought they asked about what I was taking. Maybe it was non-prescription drugs. Maybe I dreamed it. Since I was not taking anything, I didn't spend much time or pay much attention as the answer was no. Do they ask about anything now? Or do they just wait for results to ask questions?

 

You're welcome. All the test I took up to a couple of years ago didn't ask for any information on what I was taking. There was one test I did where I had taken codine for a tooth and it tested positive. I had forgotten about it until the company doctor called me at home. He just asked if I had taken any prescription medicine and I told him about my tooth. He just had me show my boss the bottle. After that on the next test I went to tell the collector and they told me they couldn't write any of that information down.

I also found this in the FMCSA's rules subpart E §40.61 (g) You must instruct the employee NOT to list medications that he or she is currently taking on the CCF. The employee may make notes of medications on the back of the employee copy of the form for his or her own convenience, but these notes must not be transmitted to anyone else.

I too also thought that they needed all that information and I went through the mud getting the prescription information from my doctor only to be told we don't take that!

 

There are only a few prescription drugs that show up as negative on test. Usually the ones that do show up as positive on a test show up with other markers and the doctor will call you. The paper you sign for the drug test tells you this. You take the test give them a phone number to call if the doctor has questions he will call you. Tell him what you are taking and he will clear it and the company only knows that you have a clean drug test.

 

Im on Lexapro and topamax and It didnt effect me.the only thing was I didnt get 2 years on my medical card so I have to take a physical every year