Duke Dubuque

For about three, maybe four years, I've taken a prescription drug called Protonix. It's a PPI (proton-pump inhibitor) which alleviates acid-reflux and ulcer symptoms.

My doctor prescribed it for me when Tagament /Pepcid stuff wasn't working.

Now that I'm having these probation headaches re: results of urine tests, I started researching via google and found out about the Protonix/false positive link. The drug interaction thread on this forum mentions it too.

When you give the urine, they ask you if you're diabetic and/or taking any medications; I think the first time I told them I take an acid-reflux pill. But I only take it when I need it ... like when stress makes me get the bellyburn. Gee, wonder what could make me so stressed out my stomach would start hurtin?

I went back and looked through files/old receipts etc and found about 3 years worth of receipts from Walgreens and Eckerd's/CVS for the Protonix prescription. I started taking it long before I got a DUI, was placed on probation, and had to do random urines. Years before. The pills are 40 mgs each.

The most recent paper I got with it, the last time it was refilled, says right on the "Patient Prescription Information" MAY AFFECT THE RESULT OF CERTAIN LAB TESTS (eg, false positive urine screen for tetrahydrocannabinol-THC)"

If I come up positive, could this be my ace in the hole? Could I have my lawyer argue that the medicine could be responsible?

Sure glad I saved those receipts.