Can Ritalin cause a drug test to test positive for methaampehtamine?

[Ethereal]

As I've written in another post, a drug test (urine sample) I took today, showed traces of meth in it. I've not done meth in at least 8 months, and the only thing I can think of that could have caused this is Ritalin, of which I take 100 mg a day. Is the Ritalin to blame? And will a blood test clear my name, or can Ritalin, or whatever caused this, be confused with meth in a blood test too?

[Fima]

Meth gets out of the body very fast(like 6 days),
and Ritalin can cause false positive for Meth, so I guess you can explain that to them with no problem

[Ethereal]

Originally Posted by Fima

Meth gets out of the body very fast(like 6 days),
and Ritalin can cause false positive for Meth, so I guess you can explain that to them with no problem

They claimed it wasn't possible that Ritalin could have caused it, so explaining that to them would be a bit difficult-actually, explaining anything to them is a bit of a challenge, as they seem to have difficulties understanding anything more complex than "yes" or "no".

If the head psychiatrist is as incompetent as the rest of the staff, the blood test will be my only hope.

[Impromptu_DTour]

There are so many things that can cause a false positive for meth.. like a vicks nasal enhaler.. anything with ephedra.. to asthma medication. For them to say that there is no way that Ritalin would be causing it seems kind of odd to me.. since ritalin is "Methylphenidate", and can most definately cause a false positive for Methamphetamine. Unless they're verifying their tests with an Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS), theres no way they would know for certain.

If you give the head psyd. your perscription papers, there should be no problem.

I_DTour

[trishcan]

What was the test for? Work, probation, etc? Most places do an initial 5-panel screen that often results in false positives, then perform a more thorough test at a lab to verify or rule out such positives.

I have tested positive for amphetamines while taking Concerta, and tested negative for amphetamines while taking Vyvanse (an actual amphetamine). In any case, further testing usually rules it out. As long as you disclosed about the medication before you took the test, you should be good. If you don't tell them you were taking medication until the test came back positive, they generally aren't required to perform any further testing unless they wish.

[KMiller]

Methylphenidate hits on big five drug tests as an amphetamine.

[Kiddder]

Substances that cause false positives;

http://www.askdocweb.com/falsepositives.html

The chances of you getting a false positive depends on the quality of the laboratory that does the testing. There seems to be about 1,200 of these labs in the United States currently testing for drugs. Less than a 100 of these meet federal standards and most of the individual states do not regulate drug test labs. The number of false positives returned range from 4% to over 50%, depending on the lab.

[Ethereal]

Originally Posted by trishcan

What was the test for? Work, probation, etc? Most places do an initial 5-panel screen that often results in false positives, then perform a more thorough test at a lab to verify or rule out such positives.

I have tested positive for amphetamines while taking Concerta, and tested negative for amphetamines while taking Vyvanse (an actual amphetamine). In any case, further testing usually rules it out. As long as you disclosed about the medication before you took the test, you should be good. If you don't tell them you were taking medication until the test came back positive, they generally aren't required to perform any further testing unless they wish.

I'm currently hospitalized in a mental institution, by my own choice, and the test was just a random check-up they do after people having been out of the hospital for a few days. They do, of course, know all about what meds I'm on, what doses- after all, they're giving them to me while I'm here.

[Fima]

they just like cops, cops will lie, will say they saw you doing crime, but as long as you insist, they will understand you are not lieying!
the results have nothing to do with your past meth use, I can asure! there is no way meth can be stored 8 months in the body, no way!!!

[Josh_kelly]

Substances or Conditions which can cause false positives
In Urine Tests
Ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, propylephedrine, phenylephrine, or desoxyephedrine
(Nyquil, Contact, Sudafed, Allerest, Tavist-D, Dimetapp, etc)
Phenegan-D, Robitussin Cold and Flu, Vicks Nyquil
Over-the-counter diet aids with phenylpropanolamine (Dexatrim, Accutrim)
Over-the-counter nasal sprays (Vicks inhaler, Afrin)
Asthma medications (Marax, Bronkaid tablets, Primatine Tablets)
Prescription medications (Adderall, Amfepramone, Cathne, Etafediabe, Morazone,
...phendimetrazine, phenmetrazine, benzphetamine, fenfluramine, dexfenfluramine,
...dexdenfluramine,Redux, mephentermine, Mesocarb, methoxyphenamine, phentermine,
... amineptine, Pholedrine, hydroymethamphetamine, Dexedrine, amifepramone, clobenzorex,
...fenproyorex, mefenorex, fenelylline, Didrex, dextroamphetamine, methphenidate, Ritalin,
...pemoline, Cylert, selegiline, Deprenyl, Eldepryl, Famprofazone)





http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/amph..._testing.shtml

[Retromancer]

It sounds what you -- and the medical staff -- needs to do is:

• Stop the methylphenidate and let the metabolites clear your system.
• Take the test.
• Restart the methylphenidate.
• Test again