This Is Probably A Very Commonly Asked Question.

I have been taking Vyvanse (a ADHD med) for about 15 years now. I got my cdl and on my first med card check up I listed it as one of my medications. During my first DOT drug screen I got a call from a doctor at the lab who asked for my pharmacy info and stuff, and had no issues.

My first question is on non-DOT testing such as a hair follicle test will I have the same chance to present that I’m taking the medication for legitimate reasons and have a doctors prescription, or will they just outright fail me. I don’t want any trouble on my record for a medication I’m legitimately prescribed.

Also I know the hair tests go back as far as a year or so, I had surgery about six months ago and was on pain killers for about 4-5 days afterwards again they were prescribed, will I have any problems with that instance?

Anyway as for as any other substances, I’m as clean as can be, and I have nothing to hide.

JP, I had surgery 3 weeks ago and I asked the anesthesiologist about the pain meds. He said everything would be gone from my system in a week.They prescribed me Oxycodone and I had that during an overnight stay after surgery, but after I was out I didn’t need to use any Oxycodone. My understanding is that pain meds are out of the system in a matter of days. But these are questions you should ask your Doctor and keep written records of prescribed medications. The ADHD is something I am not knowledgeable about, so perhaps someone else will comment on that for you.

J.P,

The long-and-short of it is that an employer drug screen, whether it is DOT mandated (urinalysis) or non-DOT mandated (hair follicle), the donor is given the opportunity to disclose any medical history such as surgery and/or prescription medication(s), prior to the collection of a donor specimen.

Once the specimen is given at the collection site and sent to the laboratory for testing and, if a positive test is affirmed, the results are sent to a medical review officer (MRO) for review. Basically, the MRO must determine if there is a legitimate medical explanation for laboratory confirmed positive drug screen results. The MRO contacts the donor to interview the donor and then follows a procedure to verify the prescription medication(s) that could have caused a false-positive result.

In your case, you have already gone through this process during the pursuit of a CDL i.e. the initial DOT drug screen and physical examination which secured your federal medical examiner’s certificate. The most important thing to do, if/when a hair follicle screen occurs, is to be upfront and honest in disclosure and to have the evidence e.g. pharmacist contact information, prescription documents, medication canisters etc.

Good journey and God bless.