I am in Law Enforcement and I am currently prescribed Xanax. I've been taking it off and on ONLY AT BEDTIME for approx 1 month to help me sleep. I took 3mg of Xanax at 2am last week, again to help me sleep (I work 4p to 12a). The next day I was sent for a drug test (Urine) at 10:30pm. The Dr called me approx a week later and asked what I had prescriptions for. When I informed him and gave him my RX number, the date filled and pharmacy number for the Xanax "ok, no problem. I'll verify this and if it's confirmed I'll report to your employer that your tests are negative. The same day I went into work My IA Cmdr showed me the results that I showed positive for Xanax. I showed his in the previous days the mostly full bottle of my Xanax and explained they help me sleep at night. I informed him I took them last night around 2 am to help me sleep (bad insomnia) but it still showed up 20 Hrs after taking it. Now he wants me to go to an evaluator to see if I could have a dependacy problem??? WTH? He states none of these meds can be in my system while i'm on duty. Has anyone heard of this before? If so are we not allowed treatment like civilians? And believe me from the moment I woke up that morning I felt great w/ no groggyness and am totally confident that I was in no way under the influence of Xanax 20 hrs after taking it.. Any input would be great. Thanks
Xanax in Law Enforcement?
Question posted by umok on 30 Dec 2009
Last updated on 31 December 2009
Answers
The approx. half life of Xanax is 11.2 hours and can stay in your system for 26.9 hours according to the manufacture. This drug is not recommended for insomnia. I would recommend talking with your evaluator and explain that the manufacture states that Xanax can stay in your system for a maximum of 26.9 hours. Print this out and take it with you as proof - https://www.drugs.com/pro/xanax.html If they state that you can't take this medication do to the fact that it can affect your performance which can be true but I personally believe it shouldn't be a problem if you're taking it AS PRESCRIBED by a professional doctor. If they say you can't take this medication I would contact the ACLU directly and tell them about the situation. If they aren't willing to do anything I would negotiate and say you will try a non benzodiazepine such as Ambien, Sonata or Lunesta which work much better than benzodiazepines for sleep. I hope this helps. Good Luck and Happy Holidays!
I appreciate your response. Switching meds is surely going to be the end result. I'm sure my evaluator is all aware of half-lifes and such from what I hear he's been doing his job for 35 plus years. I guess his job is to see if I'm an addict or have potential to be one. It's really a weird place I'm in because of something so minor in my eyes BUT I know if I were the employer I probably would have taken the same route. Thanks again.
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Further information
- Xanax uses and safety info
- Xanax prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Xanax (detailed)
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