Do Legally Prescribed Drug Produce the Metabolite Benzoylecgonine?

Q: In what legally prescribed drugs is benzoylecgonine an ingredient.
-By Joann, female age 56

Reply:

The legally prescribed drugs do not produce benzoylecgonine as a metabolite.

That is the reason this metabolite is used for cocaine drug screening, almost as a fingerprint testing. It is very specific.

Though there are some anesthetics including lidocaine, novacain, that may produce metabolites that are similar in structure to benzoylecgonine, so labs with cruder instruments may label you positive if you are consuming these medications. In that case, you may request for confirmation test by GC/MS.

Take Care,

Buddy M.D.

Medical Advice (Q&As) on “Do Legally Prescribed Drugs Have Benzoylecgonine as Metabolite?

  1. Jeremy Zahner

    Hello I’m very nervous about a drug screen I have. I allowed myself exactly five days to detox from a cocaine use of just under 0.2 grams. I drank about four beers around 4 hours before. I consumed the coke via nostril.

    I have done coke maybe eight times throughout the course of my life. I am 26, six foot and about 155. I haven’t done coke in over 5 months prior to this time. I do drink a fair amount of soda regularly but haven’t since.

    What do you believe my chances are with water and exercise of being clean in exactly five days? Would you believe I am on the higher end of the spectrum?

    Reply
    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Though nothing can be said for sure, you don’t seem to be on the higher side of the spectrum.

      Reply
  2. Lucinda T

    I urine screened a client today and she tested positive for benzoylecgonine and she promises all she took was a lot of BC Power for a headache. She did admit that she had taken tizanidine, only one from a friend. Would any of these make her positive for the benzoylecgonine? Thank you in advance for your answer. Lucinda

    Reply
    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Benzoylecgonine is a very specific metabolite of cocaine.

      The medications she has reported to you are unlikely to give a positive test for cocaine.

      Reply
  3. Becca81

    I was drug tested today in family court and came up positive for amphetamines benzos and cocaine. I have not used cocaine in over 3 years but I am taking prescription Xanex soma flexerol and OTC diet pills LipoZene and garcinia Cambodia. Can the combination cause a false positive for cocaine?

    Reply
    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      It is unlikely for the above mentioned medicines to give a positive test for cocaine. The metabolite of cocaine is very specific. Read above in details.

      Reply
  4. Anonymous

    I was tested for drugs and cocaine was positive. I don’t do drugs but I’ve a kidney infection and taken ibuprofen. Will this be the case?

    Reply
  5. redgrace28

    Urine test positive for cocaine at doctors, what specifics ingested/taken/used can create another false positive at a laboratory if gas test is used/is not used? What method do most laboratories use to confirm a positive drug screen when taking routinely for medication compliance. Doctor said hes sure its wrong but with everything I’ve been reading about people swearing they don’t use, either they’re all liars or there’s alot of mistakes being made/misunderstandings going on. Thanks for your response and education.

    Reply
  6. Collins

    I have never used cocaine or any other drugs. I have drug test on my job for over 10years and have always been negative I need back surgery and was injected and numbed for the procedure, could this have anything to do with me testing positive for cocaine?

    Reply
  7. Cindy S.

    I tested positive for benzoylecgonine. When tested, I had been clean for over 60 days from all illicit drugs, including crack cocaine and heroin. I do, however, take the following prescription drugs: Wellbutrin, Suboxone, Vistaril, and Doxepin. Can these prescriptions cause benzoylecgonine to appear in my urine.
    I am so frustrated because I obviously look like a liar being as though I have a drug history. In the end, before discharging myself from the IOP program where these false positives were occurring. Also, I live with a disabled woman whose pills I have to crush twice a day for them to be administered through her feeding tube. I have been researching but cannot find anything concrete. All I know is that I have NOT done crack or heroin or the like since January 7, 2018. Not being believed and looked upon as a liar or a drug dealer makes me want to throw up my hands and give up. But I haven’t yet.
    Thank you for your response.

    Reply
    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Well, it’s unlikely for any of these pills to give a positive test for benzoylecgonine. May be, you can request a repeat test.

      Reply
  8. Lakesha Thomas

    Hello. I been with pain management for 4 years now. Never had a positive drop for any illegal drugs. I do not use any street drugs. I am on immediate and extended oxycodone. Gabapentin. Ibuprofen 800mg. I tested positive for cocaine on April 16th. Told my primary Dr to retest me. She did on May 3rd. Came back positive again at a low range. I would like to know how is this possible? I also use voltaren gel for my leg pain

    Reply
    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Voltaren gel, Gabapentin or ibuprofen cannot give a false positive. Oxycodone is a opioid, but again, it’s metabolite is different, though similar, to cocaine. Most modern labs are able to differentiate between them.

      Reply
  9. G. Parry

    I had 5 teeth extracted by my dentist and was anaesthetised using lidocaine. The next day I was drug tested whilst driving, and the Police Forensic blood test revealed benzoylecgonine over the legal limit. t
    The suggestion is that I had used Cocaine recently, but that is not the case. Could the Lab have detected Lidocaine as Benzoylecgonine ?

    Reply
    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Most labs these days are precise enough to differentiate between cocaine/ lidocaine metabolites.

      Reply
  10. Ashley

    I did cocaine and Ecstasy while drinking over night. Since 4am til about 8am .First time. I might have a random urine screen done on me on Monday 3 o clock . They Use the iCup Drug screen cup .

    Please tell me what i might be falling into and is there any way to lower metabolite under the Cut Off Limit by then .

    Reply
  11. Chip

    Need help with a hair drug test question. I did a stupid thing and relapsed and used half g about 5 days ago, and haven’t touched it in Over year+. What is the likely good of it showing Up in the test in 10 days? Thanks for any help.

    Reply
    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      The drug may show up in some hair strands. It’s your luck whether they’re able to catch it or not.

      Reply
  12. ElephantMan12

    Hello,

    I took 0.25g of cocaine on a Friday night, last use was at 23:30, I drank about 4 beers and a couple of vodka lemonades between this from about 18:00 – 01:00 the following day. I am 6 foot 225lbs an active, healthy man with a good diet and I remain hydrated all the time. I had a drug test on Wednesday so it was roughly 4 days 9 hours since I took anything. I know you can’t give me a guaranteed answer, but, how do you fancy my chances?

    Reply
  13. mo

    I did a gram of cocaine with my friend on Saturday. I did not drink. I weigh 250 pounds. I do not do any other drugs and haven’t touched anything else In over 6 months. Will I test positive for a druh screen 11 days after?

    Reply
  14. Nancy Watson

    Texted positive for benzoylecgoine for my pain management Dr. I was very surprised. I am severe allergies and asthma. Could any of that medication metabolize as benzolecgoine ?

    Reply
  15. Lucy McNeal

    Hi my partner tested positive for cocain. I wanted to know if this could of just come up as he takes a prescription drug called pregablin?

    Thanks

    Reply
  16. David jones

    Hi I did cocaine Saturday morning for like 4 hours stopped around 7 am but drunk alcohol to I had a drug lab test on Wednesday around 3 pm but after I stopped I drunk over 200 oz. Of water 2 bottles of pure cranberry juice a cup of pickle juice took niacin for like a day and a half every four hours the day before the test I walked and run for 2.3 or 2.5 miles and did a detox drink 2 hours before I went to test did no more drugs or drink alcohol while detoxing how likely am I going to pass pee was almost clear

    Reply
    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Was this a one time use of the drug? If yes, you’re likely to pass.

      In frequent users, however, it may take longer to cleanse.

      Reply
  17. David jones

    Yea it was for probation I done with drugs but one more thing if you have sex with people who use a lot of drugs can they pass off in your system

    Reply
        1. Buddy M.D. Post author

          Minute contaminations are possible from those drug users. However, if you maintain a good oral hygiene and cleanse yourself well, you’re more likely to pass.

          Reply
  18. Jack

    Is their any similar drugs that motabolites the same as
    benzoylecgonine? I know it’s unique when your body brakes it down. I did have coca leaves couple’s day before would this give the same outcome. As the drug result showing positive.

    Reply
    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Benzoylecgonine is the signature metabolite of cocaine.

      Since cocaine may be extracted from coca leaves, chewing excess of these leaves may show positive results.

      Reply
  19. Suzanne

    I’m a chronic pain patient of several years and I recently went in for my regular drug test a week ago and was called today to be told I was being fired as a patient due to a cocaine metabolite coming back positive. They refused to tell me what metabolite and how much it was in a quantitative value. I’m an RN and I’ve never touched cocaine so I’m completely lost. I am on clonazepam, Wellbutrin 300mg, Ambien, Tizanadine, Nortriptyline, Gabapentin, carvedilol, diltiazem, plaquenil, and two HIV meds(plus a few others but can’t think of all of them). The only new meds since my last drug screen are the Nortriptyline, Diltiazem, and I’m going through several tubes of 5% lidocaine rectally(oh and nitro bid paste for a fissure) due to a horrible hemorrhoid problem!!! I’ve been in tears since their call today and they are refusing to give me the info In facts and refusing to let me speak with the Physician about this. My drug test before this had issues of being “too low” of hydrocodone levels based off my prescription, but I take 5 a day so I didn’t even know how that was possible and they treated me as if I were selling them instead of taking them. I asked to come do a repeat on the test which they allowed snd it came back fine. I’ve also asked today if they can re-analyze my specimen or check another one in which their only response is I’m sorry if it’s positive for cocaine metabolites then your instantly let go with no communication or further testing required. I suffer from severe autoimmune, fibromyalgia, and now a Covid long hauler and I’m not sure what I’m going to do, not to mention the detox I’ll go through from taking 5-Norco 10’s/day for YEARS! Please shed some light on this because I’m beside myself upset.

    Reply
    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Sorry about the condition dear. The only way to sort out the problem is talking to your health care facility.

      Reply
  20. Stella Buffland

    I was tested positive for Benzoylecgonine, however have NEVER touched drugs. I am severely epileptic. I’m on Levetiracetam (2500mg twice daily), Clonazepam, Lamotragine (250mg twice daily), Multivitamin and mineral combinations, Tapiramite and deflonac for migraines and also a Keto A.M & P.M combination for sleep/weight loss which I’ve noticed the PM has melatonin in it. The reading was very high which is also confusing everyone. I have read that melatonin can/or has been known to be used for repeat cocaine – users. Would any of the about cause this to either increase a reading or show a false positive or contain something similar? I’m close to losing my job as need a license as part of it and very much putting my health at risk due to now increased sensations of seizures (haven’t had one yet but this will also mean the license was lost).
    Regards

    Reply
    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      There’s no proven link yet, between taking of the above medications with presence of cocaine metabolites.

      Reply
  21. COLIN

    I take tamazapan and Morphine sulphate is there any link to Benzoylecgonine. I was a crack cocain user but not had any whatsoever for about two years but a police drug test was positive for Benzoylecgonine

    Reply
    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Only a very crude test would confuse between their metabolites. Most tests are able to detect benzoylecgonine metabolite uniquely.

      Reply
  22. David

    One of my staff recently failed a drugs test for Cocaine. He swears it is a result of his medications. I have received his results back from the lab today and they show a positive for Cocaine, but a Negative for benzoylecgonine?
    What can this mean?

    Reply
    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Benzoylecgonine is more specific for cocaine use, in general. A false positive test may be due to certain pain medications.

      Reply

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