My husband is taking LDN - low dose naltrexone (4mg/day). Will this show up on a routine drugs / alcohol screen done by his employer?

If he is taking this as prescribed, simply showing the prescription to the company would alleviate any positive results on a drug test.

Is this the real concern?

If he is taking this as prescribed,,simply showing the prescription to the company would alleviate any positive results on a drug test.

Is this the real concern?

He does not really want to alert them to the fact that he is taking it as it might raise questions as to why he is taking it and mean that he might not get the job he is applying for - he is taking it for MS and does not want them to know about this condition.

That alone could be a deal breaker(legally,if he is hired under the guise of health and has a condition not disclosed at the time of hire, but I am not a lawyer), or could be a guarantee for employment,depending on how this information is used.(Persons with disabilities act, again,I am not a lawyer, no legal background, but I do have opinions.. :)

I took Revia (Naltrexone) at one point in my recovery from alcohol and drugs. It is an opiate antagonist. I do not believe that it shows up on typical drug screening.

However, I agree with KBC on the fact that total disclosure is always the best route to take. Sorry.

I took Revia (Naltrexone) at one point in my recovery from alcohol and drugs. It is an opiate antagonist. I do not believe that it shows up on typical drug screening.

However, I agree with KBC on the fact that total disclosure is always the best route to take. Sorry.

He has decidednot to disclose his condition since he has been working with it for the last 15 years with no problems although he didn't know that he had it. I am uessing that Revia is quite a high level of Naltrexone (approx 50mg per day) and he is only using 3mg. If Revia is not detected then Low Dose Naltrexone will not be. Thanks.

He has decidednot to disclose his condition since he has been working with it for the last 15 years with no problems although he didn't know that he had it. I am uessing that Revia is quite a high level of Naltrexone (approx 50mg per day) and he is only using 3mg. If Revia is not detected then Low Dose Naltrexone will not be. Thanks.

Please don't think my answer is anything more than speculation.

I'm not certain, but I highly doubt that a typical drug screen will detect such a small amount of a non-narcotic substance.

Good luck.

My husband is taking LDN - low dose naltrexone (4mg/day). Will this show up on a routine drugs / alcohol screen done by his employer?

The employer is an important element in your question. Some employers (transportation, federal contractors, etc) under the mandates of federal regulation are restricted to use of a 5-panel screen with a specific cut-off of 2000 in relation to opiates SAMHSA. Employers that are unionized must test in accord with standards established by their collective bargaining agreement. Usually equal to the SAMHSA standard above.

Other than those exceptions, no restrictions are placed on employers and they may choose more intrusive testing i.e. 10 panel tests if they desire. Most don't.

Naltrexone is technically an opioid, that is a synthetic opiate. It does not produce the same metabolites as the opiate class and it is these metabolites that are being tested for. Therefore, this drug should not be detected unless specifically tested for. The 5-panel will not pick it up at 2000 or anywhere near that cut-off. Tests for detection must usually be "no threshhold" to detect. You should be entirely safe. But it is technically detectable.

Thanks Dr Bill. You have given a very thorough answer and I hope it helps other people in the same situation. I am pretty sure that he will be safe now and it takes the pressure off. Thanks again.

Hello,

I am just wondering how the drug screening went. I am also taking LDN and have a pre-employment drug test. I don't know what kind of panel tests they run. Please let me know. Thanks.