From the Research
Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) is unlikely to cause false positive results for benzodiazepines in urine drug tests. The chemical structure of buprenorphine is different from benzodiazepines, and standard immunoassay tests are designed to detect the specific molecular structure of benzodiazepines 1. If a patient taking only Suboxone tests positive for benzodiazepines, other explanations should be considered, such as:
- Actual benzodiazepine use
- Cross-reactivity with other medications the patient may be taking, such as sertraline 2
- Laboratory error
It's essential for patients on Suboxone to inform testing facilities about all medications they're taking, including Suboxone, to help interpret results accurately. If there's concern about a potentially false positive result, a more specific confirmatory test such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) can be performed, which provides more definitive results by identifying the exact molecules present in the sample 3, 4. This approach ensures accurate results and minimizes the risk of false positives, which is crucial for patient care and management.