Urine samples with such a low creatinine level are less concentrated, and urine drug concentrations may fall below the reporting threshold in such samples. Patients who drink a lot of water, consume caffeine, take diuretic medications, have disorders of antidiuretic hormone, or other physiologic disturbances affecting urinary concentration may produce less concentrated urine. Intentional dilution may occur either with intentional ingestion of copious amounts of water or by adding water to the urine sample from the restroom sink or toilet.
Such aberrant behavior should be considered in the context of the entire patient presentation with a provider using his or her clinical judgment to assess this possibility. Are there concerns with drug and sample stability such as improper storage or delays in shipment? If evaluating urine results, the sample pH may be an indicator of sample stability. In the case of improper storage, drug degradation contributing to unexpected negative results may be possible.
Clonazepam in particular is more prone to stability issues. Is the patient on dialysis? If testing a dialysis patient, testing prior to dialysis is recommended or at least on a non-dialysis day to reduce the possibility of unexpected negative results. Some dialysis patients are able to produce urine, but the urine produced may not be the result of normal filtration and excretion of drug and as such may not be clinically useful for drug compliance testing.
Point of Care Testing Considerations Some point-of-care testing POCT devices may result in a false positive for benzodiazepines in patients who are taking certain medications. Please see below for a list of drugs which may cause a false positive for benzodiazepines on POCT. False negative immunoassay results may also occur due to failure of the assay to react to drug-specific markers such as alpha-OH-alprazolam, 7-aminoclonazepam, 2-hydroxyethylflurazepam, and lorazepam glucuronide.
At Aegis, we understand your concerns as you evaluate definitive drug testing results. Unexpected benzodiazepine results may be indicative of noncompliance, drug misuse, or diversion, and we welcome your calls and e-mails for assistance in interpreting these results.
Providers should use their independent medical judgment based on the clinical needs of the patient when making determinations of who to test, what medications to test, testing frequency, and the type of testing to conduct.
Baselt, RC. Disposition of toxic drugs and chemicals in man. Benzodiazepine metabolism: an analytical perspective. Curr Drug Metab. Designer benzodiazepines: a new challenge. World Psychiatry. Prolonged accumulation of diazepam in obesity. J Clin Pharmacol. The characterization of human urine for specimen validity determination in workplace drug testing: a review.
J Anal Toxicol. Benzodiazepines are not recommended for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding, as they are associated with pre-term delivery, low birth weight and potential birth defects. Benzodiazepines are often present in patients who have intentionally or accidentally overdosed. If you take a large amount, you could overdose.
There is some evidence that long-term, heavy use of benzodiazepines is a risk factor for epilepsy, stroke and brain tumours. The use of benzodiazepines to help with the come down effects of stimulant drugs such as amphetamines or ecstasy may result in a cycle of dependence on both types of drug.
Giving up benzodiazepines after a long time is challenging because the body has to get used to functioning without them. If taking benzodiazepines is suddenly stopped, sudden withdrawal can cause seizures. Withdrawal symptoms vary from person to person and are different depending on the type of benzodiazepine being taken. Symptoms can last from a few weeks to a year and can include:. If your use of benzodiazepines is affecting your health, family, relationships, work, school, financial or other life situations, you can find help and support.
Using benzodiazepines without a prescription from a doctor, or selling or giving them to someone else, is illegal. There are also laws against forging or altering a prescription or making false representation to obtain benzodiazepines or a prescription for them. Doctors must now follow additional state and territory laws when prescribing alprazolam and must notify, or receive approval from, the appropriate health authority. Not sure what you are looking for? Try our intuitive Path2Help tool and be matched with support information and services tailored to you.
BZD , Valium , benzo , downers , goofballs , moggies , normies , qual , serras , sleepers , tranx , xannies. Last published: November 10, What are benzodiazepines? Types of benzodiazepines There are three types of benzodiazepines: long, intermediate and short-acting. In fact, benzo-related overdoses increased sevenfold between and , increasing from 1, to 8, deaths. Since this trend shows no signs of slowing in the near future, it is crucial for American citizens to be aware of the dangers of BZO misuse, and for employers, healthcare professionals, and others to be vigilant in testing for these substances.
They are most commonly used as a sedative since they reduce sensations of anxiety, excitement, and agitation. However, they can also be used to treat seizures, as they lessen the severity of convulsions by depressing the nervous system. If a BZO drug is abused, however, it can produce serious side effects, including:. Additionally, due to the fact that BZO abusers often develop an increased tolerance for the medication over time, overdosing is common and can be fatal.
Thus, a BZO drug test refers to any drug screening device that can detect the presence of benzodiazepines in the human body.
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