... also has severe COPD. He carries a rescuer inhaler (ProAir-HFA, albuterol sulfate) 3 puffs every 3 hours, takes Sprirvia (18 mcg tiotropium bromide inhalation powder capsule) once a day and he uses a nebulizer (3 times a day) which he puts a vile (0.5mg) of ipratropium bromide and a vile (2.5mg) of albuterol sulfate together and inhales until mixture is gone. With these medications being inhaled, should he be drug tested (swabbing of his mouth) will his test show up as positive? A "positive" result is automatic termination
My husbands' company drug tests once a month by swabbing the inside of the individuals mouth, he?
- Posted:
- 13 Feb 2011 by popdrop53
- Topics:
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, albuterol, tiotropium, drug test
Details:
Added 23 Feb 2011:
I would like to thank all those who were kind enough to reply to my question. All the answers were helpful & informational. I asked more questions of what they were testing for. Hubby says he thinks that they are testing for drugs such as weed, meth & other such drugs. But I find it very unusual cause according to the companys' "Hand Book" , they don't want the workers coming to work "under the influence" of anything or take something while at work. With the breathing medications my husbands takes, I wonder if his test would show "postive"? I myself an looking for a job & have been applying at medical institutions. I received an email from one of them that they just implimented a new "Nicotine" test. They pretty much said that if I smoke or come to work & I get randomly tested for nicotine, I will be fired. So in other words they are controlling what I do on my own time???
Answers (3)
christine...13 Feb 2011
Try not to worry too much. Have your husband get a note from his doctor listing the medications he needs. I'm not sure what he would test positive for if anything. IF something comes back positive, your husband will get a phone call from the MRO (medical review officer) asking what medications he's taken in the past 30 days. He/she should then be able to determine a false positive for any substance that may come up. But it's very doubtful that he would test positive for any illicit drug. But please get a letter from his doctor about these medications he's prescribed. MRO's are pro's at determining what combination of legally prescribed drugs may cause false positives. You can also request a hair follicle test that would be more definitive.
Best wishes,
chris
Tonka856113 Feb 2011
This policy makes me nervous. What does the release state they are looking for? It seems very intrusive. What I am afraid of is not a false positive, but misuse of the swab. I do not know for sure, but I think there is supposed to be a wall between the insurer of the employees and the company. The company has an interest in (however sh@tty) in getting rid of expensive/less healthy employees that cause the company's insurance costs go up. It is probably just for illegal drugs, and,if it were me, I would wait until something comes up... maybe just asking hr about legal meds causing a false positive - what then is the Company's proceedure in that case. Your husband is on a lot of awfully expensive meds. I know that, because I take a lot of them.
christineATU
13 Feb 2011
I know what you mean Tonka! You should read some of the stats on false positives in the link provided. It happens so often, they're looking at different ways of testing. The more money you make, the more they look for a reason to let you go. But there are laws in place for employees to fight back. Look at what happened to me and I'm still winning. It wasn't over a drug test but was illegally fired anyway. I've won at each step so far but they keep appealing. Good news is it isn't costing me a dime in attorneys fees. The main thing is people have to read up on their rights. Not in the handbook, but the law book! Just because a company has certain policies, does not mean they can break the law either. These jobs out there that state in the handbook, they can fire you with or without cause? Not true if they break the law doing it. And that includes discrimination. I'm a fighter.
DzooBaby13 Feb 2011
Most pre-employment screens are looking for illegal substances but Chris is right that some, depending on the job, are looking for anything that impairs judgement or reaction time, etc. Your husband should be okay as long as he is prescribed these meds. On occasion, you can get an employer who doesnt allow even prescription meds (like opioid analgesics) to be in the system at all (which your husband isnt taking unless it is something you have not listed) The meds you have listed are specifically for helping him breathe. I, personally, think this is a great violation of our rights! They make such a big deal of HIPPA laws to where I'm unable to pick up a written record of my husbands prescriptions at the pharmacy, for tax purposes, without his written consent, but employers want to ask you to disclose all the meds you take?? What a crock!!! I dont disclose anything unless it shows on a screen and I have to prove I have an Rx for it.
christineATU
13 Feb 2011
I agree 100% with you. When I WAS working, I was subjected to pre-employment as well as random screens. Over the years, I must have had 20 or more. I never disclosed any med I took and just waited for the results to come back. Only once did I get a call from the MRO asking if there was a medical reason BDP would show in my system. "Oh yes! I forgot about that. I needed a valium the other day and forgot to mention it." He then calls my doc to verify it's a legit Rx and marks the results pass or clear, something like that. Depending on the company, I could have been out of a job. It's all in the companies specific policy regarding drug screens. I swear they make the rules up as they go along. People need to educate themselves on their rights regarding these tests and I would go so far as to check if their policy is even legal/enforceable.
DzooBaby
14 Feb 2011
Yup, my last drug screen for employment i was on OxyContin but they didnt test for it and I didnt disclose it. They checked for morphine but not Oxy. It is nobody's business what I take as long as I can perform my job!
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I totally agree with Christine. These tests are looking for illegal drugs not prescription. He just has to let them know if asked about what prescribed meds he takes.uk... Mary63
It's late, don't know what the uk was in my answer! But wanted to add that I realize these meds are expensive. If that what they are looking for. I don't know. How long has he worked there, & what does his job entail?
not necessarily true. They look for ANY drug that either wasn't disclosed on their job application or drugs that can impair someones judgement. Especially in safety sensitive positions. That's why it's so important to have a doctors note stating this person is capable of performing their job duties while on this medication. Random drug screens aren't a big deal as long as you have a legit script and disclose the info when your called in for the test. They're also required to have the MRO (medical review officer) contact YOU before the employer to ask why a certain med is in your system. If everything checks out, the MRO marks it negative or pass.
Thanks Christine. I agree with you again. I sure don't have all the answers! Ha! That's why I'm here too.