- Types of Benzodiazepines
- Why is a BZO drug test necessary?
- What Drugs Will Show Up on a BZO Drug Test?
- How long does BZO stay in the system?
- What prescription medications can affect BZO drug test results?
- What types of drug tests can detect BZO?
Employers are now adding BZO drug test to their drug testing programs. Pre-employment drug test help employers to screen potential new hires for drug abuse. Most employers have strict rules to ensure employees comply with their standards for a drug-free workplace and safe working environment. But the question here is “What Drugs Show Up on a BZO Drug Test?”
What are Benzodiazepines? BZO or Benzodiazepine is a class of drugs that has a wide variety of medical uses. These include treatments for anxiety disorders, insomnia, alcohol withdrawal, muscle spasms, and seizure disorders. When taken frequently, these classified depressant drugs will have a long-term effect on the body, which is extremely dangerous and could lead to overdose deaths.
Different Types of Benzodiazepines
What are Benzodiazepines Drugs?
Let’s first take a look at some of the benzodiazepines that help treat anxiety. The benzodiazepines frequently used to treat anxiety disorders are:
- Alprazolam (Xanax)
- Lorazepam (Ativan)
- Clonazepam (Rivotril)
- Bromazepam (Lectopam)
- Oxazepam (Serax)
- Diazepam (Valium)
Why is a BZO Drug Test Necessary?
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, drug overdose deaths involving benzodiazepines rose from 1,135 in 1999 to 11,537 in 2017 and declined to 9,711 between 2017 to 2019.
What Drugs Will Show Up on a BZO Drug Test?
Benzodiazepine detection in urine varies depending on the drugs. These are the detectable drugs that will show up on a BZO urine test.
- Valium:10-30 days
- Ativan:5 days
- Xanax:5 days
- Klonopin:5 days
- Ambient:1 day
- Halcion:7-15 hours
Benzodiazepines Side Effects
Benzodiazepines have a low risk of addiction when used only for a few weeks. However, when used for several months, especially when taken more than the normal doses, getting addicted and physical dependence on the drug will increase.
Side effects of benzodiazepine ingestion can be mild and you might not even notice when using these drugs in low doses.
Common side effects are:
- Dizziness
- lack of coordination, drowsiness, and sedation. When used at higher doses, side effects include disorientation, confusion, breathing difficulties, agitation, hallucinations, amnesia, and depression.
It is necessary to have a BZO drug test because it can highly affect the person’s ability to work effectively. It is always best for a company to have a fair drug and alcohol policy that will help their employees maximize their productivity at work and ensure everyone’s safety.
How long does BZO stay in the system?
These are the different factors that affect the length of time benzodiazepines stay in the body:
- Weight
- which benzodiazepine was taken
- history of drug use
- medical history
- metabolism speed
The frequency of usage gives more evidence that will bring a positive result. Those who have quick metabolism that takes a small dose will test negative more quickly than someone with a slow metabolism which takes the same or larger doses.
Other factors that influence how long benzos stay in the body include:
- The regular dose
- How the drug was taken
- The presence of other drugs in the body
- Age
- Ethnicity
- Medical conditions
- Gender
- Psychiatric conditions
BZO tests can be conducted in different methods using urine, saliva, hair, and blood. Drug detection times for different specimens may vary depending on the substance amount and frequency of use. The blood specimen for BZO has the shortest window of detection for this substance. Saliva reflects the presence of drugs within several hours. The most common is urine testing. This offers a longer window of detection period for BZO, which is usually 7 days. The hair offers the longest window of detection that can be within weeks or months.
What Prescription Medications Can Affect BZO Drug Test Results?
Some medicines can cause false-positive results in benzodiazepine urine tests.
These medicines include:
- Tolmetin
- Oxaprozin
- Fenoprofen
- Naproxen
- Etodolac
- Sertraline
What Types of Drug Tests Can Detect BZO?
Listed below are the types of drug tests that can detect BZO.
- Drug test cups – can detect different illicit drugs in one testing. Results can be achieved in 5 minutes.
- Benzodiazepines strips – a rapid test that uses urine
- Oral swabs
- Multi-Drug test dip cards that specifically test for BZO
These are the drugs that will show on a BZO Drug Test.
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What Over-the-counter Drugs Will Test Positive for Benzodiazepines?
Certain over-the-counter drugs may test positive for benzodiazepines. These drugs include Valium, Xanax, Ativan, and Klonopin. It is important to be aware of this when undergoing a drug test, as the presence of benzodiazepines may lead to a positive result.
What Can Make You Test Positive for Benzos?
What Drugs Will Show Up on a BZO Drug Test? A false-negative benzodiazepines urine test can occur, leading to inaccurate results. It is important to be aware that certain drugs may not be detected, potentially compromising the validity of the test. Caution should be exercised when interpreting results and considering the presence of benzodiazepines.
Detection Window: The detection window for benzodiazepines in urine can vary depending on factors like the specific drug, dosage, frequency of use, and individual metabolism. Generally:
- Short-acting benzos (e.g., alprazolam): 3-5 days
- Intermediate-acting benzos (e.g., clonazepam): 5-7 days
- Long-acting benzos (e.g., diazepam): Up to 10-30 days
What Can Cause a False Positive Urine Drug Screening for Benzodiazepines?
There are a few medications and supplements that can actually cause a false-positive for BZO. Let’s check these out in more detail below:
- Certain medications:
- Sertraline (Zoloft) – an antidepressant
- Oxaprozin (Daypro) – a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
- Efavirenz (Sustiva) – an HIV medication
- Some over-the-counter medications:
- Certain sleep aids containing diphenhydramine
- Some antacids
- Dietary supplements:
- Valerian root
- Some herbal sleep aids
- Food items:
- Poppy seeds (in large quantities)
- Cross-reactivity with other substances:
- Some drug tests may cross-react with other substances that have similar chemical structures to benzodiazepines
- Test sensitivity and specificity:
- Lower quality or less specific immunoassay tests may be more prone to false positives
Although these medications and supplements can cause false positives, it’s extremely rare for this to happen. If a false positive does appear on a drug test, another test, such as a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) might be used to verify and get additional results.
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