To say that medications like Diphenoxylate/atropine are narcotics is a bit of a misnomer. Without going into a long drawn out discussion of what the human nerve synapse is, and why opioids work, I will just say these medications block the human autonomic system and slows down the digestion process. The active ingredients in Imodium and Lomotil ARE NOT narcotics according to the current definitions of the DEA. Both are FULLY legal for a driver to have in their system because of the blood barrier that stops these chemicals from affecting other nerves in the body. Because Diphenoxylate/atropine requires a prescription I recommend a driver have this as a part of their medical long form. Stop worrying about false positives.
Have you went and done a DOT physical on your own? You get drug tested and all. Just make sure you write down that prescription. If that prescription pops you, it won't count as a fail drug test because you are prescribed it. That way you will know if you can pass the physical. I have Crohns myself and am on Stelara.
Good advice on noting the prescription. Honestly, I don't think either of these meds will cause a positive. The testing strips are looking for different chemical compositions. I have to go to the VA Hospital on the 19th. I am planning to ask a clinical pharmacist who holds a pharmacy doctor degree to make sure. I will advise later.
Once in a while I'll have a incident with mine. The last one in '14 resulted in about 300 different blood tests drawn, 2000 dollars in billing for two individual MATHEMATICIANS to puzzle out some of those Tests in Dallas where the blood was shipped, the hospital billed me a cool 8000 in 4 hours for very high level ER work (They have different categories and those who are too sick get airlifted to Trauma in Little Rock.) and so on. They did not find a #### thing. But made the owie stop and everything else. But don't know WHAT caused it. When one heard I used to be a trucker, he made a similar comment, I don't worry about your tummy that much in that kind of work. Figures. Judging by the crap I put into it followed by a gallon of road coffee, figures.
I think sometimes people don't fully understand what happens when your urine is tested in a DOT test. The test strips used are set to react to metabolites of the banned substances ONCE a cutoff amount is found. This is why that poppy seed thing is not a myth, it is real, however, eating some poppy seeds won't cause a positive because those amounts are well under the cutoffs. This is why you can also take a toke from time to time and test negative. You might have some THC in your body, but it's not enough to cause a positive. I know with this clearinghouse and all that happens with positives can be a bit scary. Don't worry about using legal medications with a Medical Examiners OK. Even in a positive the MRO will contact you and ask. Sometimes the MRO is happy with just a fax from a doctor. It's not really a big deal. Just keep it legal.
Kratom, available online and at many smoke shops nationwide, produces opiod like effects at the correct dose, including the benefits of the aforementioned OTC and RX only substances, and it does not show up on any test known to man. The DEA has been trying to ban it for several years so you know it works.