I am coming back from a severe back injury. The docs prescribed hydrocodone for me which I was taking for two weeks post surgery. I am off them today but I am to return to work in 4 days. AME said 48 hours is all I need but it still makes me nervous. I know I'm not the only one who has had a back injury and had to take these meds. What have y'all heard for time after last dose to be clear of the meds and pass a drug test?

 

I have read 48-72 hours as well. If you were tested, and have a positive result, the Medical Review Officer will call you directly, before your employer, to see if you have a legitimate reason for a positive result. If you have supporting documentation, and a real prescription, your employer will most likely never know. Good luck.

 

ok 4 days shold be ok

 

Yes I have lenghty documentation and a script bottle with my name on it. Thank you for the help.

 

It's OK to have detectable traces in your system if:

1) You are outside the FAA's "bottle-to-throttle" window for that med (usually 48-72 hours, but ask your AME to be sure...your regular doc might give you the textbook answer but that might not be the same as the FAA's answer).
2) You have a legit prescription in your name (not your wife, GF, cat,etc)
3) You used the prescription according the instructions.

#3 can be a real gotcha...I'm not sure how anal the DOT/FAA is but the military has started to burn people on this.

Example: Prescription cough syrup. Maybe it says take twice a day for 7 seven days. Suppose you have some left over, get another cold three months later, use some of the cough syrup, wait the required 48 (or whatever) hours go back to work, pop positive for codeine. Well you failed because the prescription did not authorize you to re-use it after 7 days = drug abuser.

More typical for cough syrup is a prescription to use "as needed" not to exceed X amount in 24 hours. In that case you can re-use it later and be legal.

Also the military may consider it abuse if you use a prescription after it's expiration date.

Like I said, not sure how anal the DOT is but I'm reading all the labels carefully now.

 

Mine says take 1 every 6 hours as needed for pain. Says to discard next year. I can see how they are trying to nab people with the verbiage. My AME said 48 hours. I'm just paranoid I guess.

 

regardless of having a prescription or not - you cannot fly with prohibited meds in your system

 

I agree which is why I was asking. Just to be clear my AME told me 48 hours I am giving myself 96 hours. I was double checking to make sure I and my AME are correct.

 

Not exactly true.

You cannot fly while under the INFLUENCE of drugs (prescription or otherwise). That's why the official FAA waiting period is so important.

But many drugs, esp narcotics will leave detectable traces in your system for 30+ days. If you pop positive, the lab will contact you to find out if you had a legit prescription. If so, it does not count as a positive.

However...I think there are thresholds (very conservative in your favor) that define the difference between residual traces from past use and actually being under the influence. So having a scrip may not get you off the hook if you push the boundaries of the mandated bottle-to-throttle waiting period.

 

bottle to throttle pertains to alcohol