Do All Benzodiazepines Show Up On A Drug Test?

Benzodiazepine drugs, while chemically similar, don’t all show up the same on drug tests.

Benzodiazepines are generally detected by their metabolites, or the substances that drugs are metabolized to in the body.

What Types Of Drug Tests Can Detect Benzodiazepines?

Conventional drug tests, or standard panels, aren’t always able to detect the use of addictive prescription drugs like benzodiazepines. But they can be detected in comprehensive drug tests.

Types of drug tests that can detect benzodiazepines:

• urine tests
• saliva tests
• blood tests
• hair tests

Comprehensive drug panels may be used to test for drug use for people who are suspected of substance misuse or have a known history of prescription drug abuse.

How Does Xanax Show Up On A Drug Test?

Xanax, a brand name for alprazolam, is an intermediate-acting benzodiazepine that metabolizes to alpha-hydroxyalprazolam. Xanax is detected by this metabolite.

Read more about Xanax drug test detection times

How Does Ativan Show Up On A Drug Test?

Ativan, a brand name for lorazepam, metabolizes to lorazepam glucuronide. The presence of this substance on a drug test may indicate Ativan use.

How Does Klonopin Show Up On A Drug Test?

Klonopin, a brand name for clonazepam, is detected by the presence of 7-aminoclonazepam, a substance that Klonopin metabolizes to when it’s broken down in the body.

Learn more about how long Klonopin stays in your system

How Does Restoril Show Up On A Drug Test?

Restoril, a brand name for temazepam, metabolizes to oxazepam. Detecting this metabolite on a drug test can be indicative of Restoril use.

How Does Valium Show Up On A Drug Test?

Valium, a brand name for diazepam, first metabolizes to nordiazepam and temazepam. The final product of the metabolic process is oxazepam.

Thus, Valium use may be detected in the body by the presence of three metabolites: nordiazepam, temazepam, and oxazepam on a drug screen.

How Does Librium Show Up On A Drug Test?

Librium, a brand name for chlordiazepoxide, first metabolizes to nordiazepam. This substance further breaks down into oxazepam.

The presence of both substances, nordiazepam and oxazepam, can be indicative of Librium use.

How Does Flurazepam Show Up On A Drug Test?

Flurazepam is a long-acting benzodiazepine that metabolizes to 2-hydroxyethyl flurazepam, which can remain detectable in the blood and other testing specimen for days.

How Does Rohypnol Show Up On A Drug Test?

Rohypnol, a brand name for the illicit drug flunitrazepam, can be detected as the metabolite 7-aminoflunitrazepam.

Drugs That Can Affect Benzodiazepine Drug Test Results

According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, there are several drugs that can cross-react with benzodiazepines and potentially provide a false positive for benzodiazepine use.

Drugs that can provide a false positive for benzodiazepine use include:

• etodolac (Lodine)
• fenoprofen
• naproxen
• oxaprozin (Daypro)
• sertraline (Zoloft)
• tolmetin

Doctors who test patients for drug use may take this information into consideration upon analyzing and drawing conclusions from drug test results.

What Factors Can Affect How Benzodiazepines Show Up On Drug Tests?

Certain factors, such as the use of multiple drugs, can affect how benzodiazepines show up on drug tests.

Factors that can affect benzodiazepine drug test results include:

• dose taken
• type of benzodiazepine(s) taken
• length of time since last dose
• polysubstance use (i.e. use of multiple drugs)
• type of drug panel used
• drug dependence
• metabolic rate

Call Today To Find Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment

It’s common for people who are concerned about drug test results to look to the internet for answers. If you or a loved one are struggling with benzodiazepine addiction, you’re not alone.

For more information about available treatment options for benzodiazepine addiction, call our helpline to speak to one of our specialists today.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff