Can Benzocaine cause a positive drug test? 

Can Benzocaine cause a positive drug test? 

No, Benzocaine is not associated with causing a positive drug test as the medication does not produce a false positive for any of the controlled substances. 

Benzocaine is a local anaesthetic, like Lidocaine, and these medications have been tested a number of times to check their capability for a false positive (1,2). 

Every single time the results came back negative and it was concluded that the capability of these medications of causing a false positive for Cocaine or any other drug of abuse is non-existent (3). 

So, if you have a drug test coming up and you’re using a medication with Benzocaine or similar local anaesthetics like Lidocaine added in it, don’t worry! It will definitely not make you fail that test.

How is Benzocaine different from medications that give a positive drug test?

Benzocaine is a local anaesthetic commonly used to relieve pain or discomfort in the mouth and throat. It works by numbing the area where it is applied (1,2). 

One key difference between Benzocaine and medications that can give a positive drug test is that benzocaine is not typically included in drug panels or screenings. 

Drug tests usually focus on detecting specific substances such as illicit drugs or certain prescription medications (4). Benzocaine is not a drug of abuse and is not considered a controlled substance, so it is unlikely to trigger a positive drug test result for those substances.

It’s important to note that while Benzocaine itself may not cause a positive drug test, it is still important to follow the instructions and recommendations provided by healthcare professionals when using any medication or substance. 

Final words

To sum up, Benzocaine does not show up on a drug test or make you fail one. It is structurally and therapeutically different from medications that standard drug tests focus on. 

If you have specific concerns about drug testing or potential interactions, it is always advisable to consult with a healthcare professional or the organization conducting the drug test for accurate information.

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References

1.-

Singh R, Al Khalili Y. Benzocaine. 2023 Feb 25. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 31082097. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541053

2.-

PubChem [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US), National Center for Biotechnology Information; 2004-. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 2337, Benzocaine; [cited 2023 July 14]. Available from: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Benzocaine

3.-

Kim E, Murray BP, Salehi M, Moran TP, Carpenter JE, Koch DD, Ritchie JC, Schindler JM, Morgan BW. Does Lidocaine Cause False Positive Results on Cocaine Urine Drug Screen? J Med Toxicol. 2019 Oct;15(4):255-261. doi: 10.1007/s13181-019-00720-3. Epub 2019 Jul 1. PMID: 31264143; PMCID: PMC6825083. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6825083/

4.-

Aro HJ, Hussain A, Bobrin BD. Controlled Substances. 2023 Apr 8. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 32119270. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554383