Does Sertraline Show Up in a Drug Test?

If you take Sertraline, you might wonder if it shows up on a drug test. Maybe you’re in a rehab facility, or you’re just trying to stay safe. This article explains what Sertraline is, how drug testing works, and what you need to know if you’re getting screened.

At Lynk Diagnostics, we help people understand medication, testing, and results. Let’s break this down into simple parts.

What Is Sertraline?

Sertraline is a type of antidepressant. It helps with things like depression, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder. It belongs to a group called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs work by changing how your brain uses a chemical called serotonin. This helps improve your mood and lower stress.

Sertraline is not a controlled substance. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is safe when used the right way.

What Is a Drug Test?

A drug test looks for drugs or their leftovers in your body. People may get tested if they:

Are in a rehab center
Are applying for a job
Are in addiction treatment
Take part in substance abuse programs
Are under a doctor’s care

Drug tests can check your urine, blood, hair follicle, or even saliva. The most common one is the urine test.

Types of Drug Tests

Here are the common kinds of drug tests:

Urine Test

A urinalysis checks your urine. It’s quick and often used at work or in rehab. It can detect many drugs like amphetamines, opioids, and barbiturates.

Blood Test

A blood test is more exact. It can see if a drug is in your system right now. It also looks at how your liver and nervous system process the drug.

Hair Follicle Test

This test checks your hair. It shows drug use over a long time.

Saliva Test

This one checks your mouth. It’s fast but can miss drugs if they were taken days ago.

Does Sertraline Show Up on a Drug Test?

No, Sertraline does not usually show up on a drug test as an illegal drug. But here’s the tricky part—sometimes, Sertraline can cause false positives.

That means a test might mistakenly show that you used drugs like:

Amphetamines
Benzodiazepines (like diazepam)
Methadone
Methamphetamine
LSD
Barbiturates

This happens because of how the enzyme and immunoassay tests work. These tests are made to find certain chemicals. But some medications, like Sertraline, can look similar in your body.

What Causes False Positives?

Sertraline may look like other drugs in tests that use:

Immunoassay
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
Chromatography
Gas chromatography
Mass spectrometry

These tools are great, but they can sometimes get confused. That’s why labs like Lynk Diagnostics confirm results with better testing methods such as mass spectrometry and gas chromatography.

Other medications that can cause false positives include:

Bupropion
Trazodone
Escitalopram
Paroxetine
Amitriptyline
Desipramine
Aripiprazole
Doxylamine
Benadryl
Pseudoephedrine
Antihistamines

Even natural stuff like coca tea, tonic water, and poppy seeds can trick the test!

Why Accurate Testing Matters

At Lynk Diagnostics, we know how important correct results are. We use high-level toxicology testing to prevent false positives. Our lab checks for things like:

Oxycodone
Morphine
Hydrocodone
Tramadol
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the part of marijuana that gets you high
Cannabinoids
Stimulants like phentermine

We also test for adherence to treatment and watch for signs of substance abuse or addiction.

How Sertraline Is Processed in the Body

Sertraline goes through your liver and turns into something called desmethylsertraline. Your body then gets rid of it through urine and excretion. That’s why Sertraline might pop up in a urinalysis, but it’s not something drug tests look for unless there’s a specific reason.

What If You Get a False Positive?

If you take Sertraline and your test shows positive for another drug, tell your physician right away. Let them know:

All medications you’re taking
Any drink, tea, or food you’ve had (like poppy seed muffins or coca leaf tea)
Any over-the-counter antihistamine or antibiotic

Your doctor might request a DNA or genetic testing to better understand how your body reacts to medications. They can also order better screening tools for accurate results.

Sertraline and Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome

Never stop taking Sertraline without talking to your doctor. Stopping it suddenly can lead to Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome. This may cause:

Insomnia
Mood swings
Body pain
Anxiety
Trouble with the central nervous system

It’s also not safe to mix Sertraline with some drugs like rifampicin, chlorpromazine, or quinine.

Role of Lynk Diagnostics

Lynk Diagnostics is a top drug testing center. We work with rehab centers, physicians, and people in recovery. We use advanced tools like mass spectrometry, ELISA, and pharmacokinetics testing.

We understand pharmacology, substance use, and psychiatry. Our lab supports people with safe, reliable drug screening.

How to Stay Safe with Medication

Here are a few tips if you’re taking Sertraline:

Always tell your doctor about every drug or medication you take.
Don’t eat poppy seeds or coca if you have a test coming up.
Don’t stop taking Sertraline without your doctor’s help.
Let your testing lab, like Lynk Diagnostics, know you take Sertraline.

FAQs

Does Sertraline make a drug test come back positive?

Sertraline does not show up as a drug. But it may cause a false positive for amphetamine or other substances in a urine test.

What should I do before a drug test if I take Sertraline?

Tell the lab and your physician that you take Sertraline. Bring a list of all your medications to the testing site.

Can Sertraline affect other parts of the test?

Yes. It may affect tests using immunoassay or enzyme detection. These are the first tests. Labs confirm them with better tools like mass spectrometry.

Will Sertraline show up in a blood test?

A blood test may show Sertraline or desmethylsertraline, but only if the lab is looking for it. It’s not part of regular toxicology screens.

Can other meds cause false positives too?

Yes. Bupropion, trazodone, pseudoephedrine, and even Benadryl can cause false positives. So can cough or cold meds.

Final Thoughts

Sertraline helps many people feel better. But it can confuse drug tests sometimes. The good news is that labs like Lynk Diagnostics can tell the difference with advanced testing.

Always talk to your doctor and testing center. Be open about what you take, including Sertraline and other medications. This helps avoid problems and keeps your test results clear and fair.

Maverick

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Does Sertraline Show Up in a Drug Test?