Question
Can HIV meds interfere with a drugs test?
1 July 2010. Related: All topics, Drug interactions, Other tests, Recreational drugs, Supplements and herbs.
Apologies for asking what may be a silly question, I am wondering if being HIV positive and having being treated for Chlamydia a short time ago could affect the outcome of a urine drug test?
The reason for asking is that I been tested in the work place and returned a positive result for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the thing being I have not used or touched marijuana.
Any assistance you could offer would be greatly appreciated.
Answer
Thank you for your question.
Being HIV positive and having being treated for chlamydia will not affect your drug test. However, there is a drug called Marinol (dronabinol) which contains THC. Marinol includes the active ingredient in marijuana and is sometimes prescribed to HIV positive people to increase appetite and stimulate weight gain. If you have been taking any medications to increase your appetite then you should check the label and report this to your employer as the cause for the positive result.
When the HIV drug efavirenz (Sustiva) was first introduced there were several reports that it resulted in false-positive results with some marijuana tests. If you are using efavirenz (or Atripla which contains efavirenz) there may be a chance this could happen, though I haven’t heard of this being a problem for a long time.
The SPC leaflet (Specific Product Characteristics) for efavirenz documents this as a problem with only one make of test:Â “False positive test results have only been observed with the CEDIA DAU Multi-Level THC assay, which is used for screening, and have not been observed with other cannabinoid assays tested including tests used for confirmation of positive results.”
There are tests which can be done which can measure the levels of THC in your blood. The concentrations of THC can then be used to distinguish active from passive use or prescription from illicit use. If your positive result is due to passive use (being around someone else who smokes marijuana) or prescriptive use you could ask your workplace to carry out this test.
I hope you manage to sort it out.
Best wishes.
Hi Nicomedes,
Sorry to hear this news. Can you ask them to do a different test? Or even doing the same test again might help. What country do you live in? There might be an organisation that can help.
I was found positive of tetrahydrocannabinol on my initial drug testing last Monday and im now on preventive suspension up to 60 days from work. Im taking efavirenz and lamizido.
Hi Hlomla,
Please see this similar question. Trivenz contains efavirenz, but please see this link too.
Im taking trivenz its 3months will that be a problem when im taking a drug test
Hi Chiomy,
Its very unlikely that your ARV meds will have any effect on a drug screening test. The only meds that are known to be potentially problematic are Efavirenz, which your combination does not include.
Hi Dear,
I will need to attend a workplace drug test. I take Eviplera once a day. I do not and have never taken anything else. I worry about a positive due to Eviplera. Is Eviplera known to cause a false positive for railway work place test please?
Thanks Amanda,
But there are different FDCs, what’s the name of yours?
Be clear am hiv positive am talking Arvs ‘fixed-dose combinations ” (FDC) can this medication cause positive results for drugs
Hi Amanda,
What drugs are in your FDC?
Am on FDC can meds cause positive in drugs testing in my urine