Can Energy Powder Drinks Make You Fail A Drug Test? (The Truth)
Caffeine is a drug and also a common component in energy powder drinks.
This begs the question… can energy powder drinks make you fail a drug test?
The short answer is NO. Energy drink powders will not make you fail a drug test as long as it is consumed in healthy amounts.
The concentration of caffeine in a serving of energy drink won’t be enough to result in a positive drug test.
You’ll have to consume more than 15 micrograms per milliliter of caffeine corresponding to 500 mg of the stimulant for drugs to be detected in your urine sample.
Let’s go deeper, shall we?
Contents
Do Energy Drinks Count as a Drug?
Energy drinks do not count as a drug.
However, one of its main components, caffeine, is considered a food additive and a drug by the FDA. Food additives and drugs are regulated by the FDA to ensure they’re safe to consume. In this case, caffeine is a socially acceptable drug and food additive.
The caffeine concentration in energy powder drinks varies. So, be sure to read labels and know how much you’re consuming.
Caffeine is also associated with symptoms like jitters, tremors, headaches, and anxiety when ingested in large quantities.
The FDA has guidelines for caffeine intake which is 400 mg per day for most adults to prevent adverse effects from occurring. You better stick to the level of recommended intake to avoid testing positive for drugs!
What Can Cause a False Positive on a Urine Drug Screen?
Bear in mind there’s a high chance of testing positive for drugs despite not ingesting any. These are some instances that put you on the verge of getting a false positive drug test result on your urine:
- inhaling secondhand marijuana smoke
- taking weight loss pills
- consuming poppy seeds
- using mouthwash that contains ethyl alcohol
- taking antidepressants and antibiotics
- CBD oil
How to Dispute a False Positive Drug Test?
A false positive drug test result means you get tested positive for drugs even if you did not actually use any. Amongst the reasons could be medication, alcohol, and certain food that you consume.
First off, you must disclose all the food and substances that you are taking or consuming before the actual test. In this case, you must tell how many servings of energy powder drinks you just had and their caffeine content per serving or packet.
So, here’s how you can dispute a false positive drug test:
- Retest. Request for a second confirmatory test. Confirmatory tests are more sensitive and reliable than the initial drug test. So, it’s unlikely to produce a false positive or false negative result for you.
- Disclose substances that might have caused the false positive result. If you just consumed too many servings of energy powder drinks, which could be the reason for false-positive results, the lab can do a separate test for you to verify you haven’t touched the drug that is subject to testing.
If the confirmatory test came back positive, do not fear as you still have a chance to live a clean life!
If you need help on how to nail a drug test, watch this video!
Will 5-Hour Energy Drink Make You Fail a Drug Test?
No. 5-Hour Energy Drink will not make you fail a drug test.
Standard drug tests usually test for substances like amphetamine, cannabinoids, and cocaine which are not present in 5-Hour Energy.
5-Hour Energy gets its “energy” from substances like taurine, tyrosine, malic acid, phenylalanine, glucuronolactone, and caffeine which are not tested for in drug tests.
In addition, there is no confirmed test of someone testing positive for drugs due to consuming a shot of 5-Hour Energy. In other words, there’s no hard evidence it will make you fail a drug test.
So, enjoy your shot of 5-Hour Energy but be sure to keep your intake under control to avoid caffeine-related symptoms!
Supplements and Medications that Show up on Drug Test
If you don’t have enough time to study the fine print of supplements and medications that show up on a drug test, here’s a quick rundown for you:
- antihistamines
- analgesics
- Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulants
- decongestant
- cough suppressants
- HIV medication
- weight loss pills
- Metformin
- Prednisone
That said, it is best to stay away from these drugs and supplements at least a week before the drug test.
Safe Herbs for Drug Testing
- tomato
- grapefruit
- lemon
- garlic
- orange
- onion
- parsley
- licorice
- ginger
- nutmeg
- fennel
Herbs may not interfere with drug testing. Still, you should stick to flavors that have been tested to avoid getting a false positive drug test result.
How Long Does an Energy Drink Stay in Your System?
Realistically, it takes about 12 hours to fully remove the caffeine from your system.
However, this depends on certain factors like age, level of activity, and overall health. As we all know, caffeine is a drug which means you’re likely to suffer from withdrawal symptoms a few hours after ingestion. These symptoms could include dizziness, constipation, and irritability.
Moreover, research studies suggest it takes 7 to 12 days for your body to get used to caffeine – you won’t feel the effect as much.
Final Say
Energy drink powders won’t make you fail a drug test as long as you keep your intake in control.
Be sure to stay away from drugs and supplements that’ll show up on your drug test to avoid getting false positive results. Still, it’s unlikely energy drink powders can make your urine test positive for drugs.
So, off you go! Enjoy your serving of energy mix.
