Korean Job Discussion Forums

timetotravel · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Location: korea

Hi
Im coming to Korea next week and I just got antibiotics for an infection. I asked the doctor and he said it wouldnt show on drug test because it isnt a narcotic, but I looked online and it said CIPROFLAXCIN can test as a false positive for opiates.
Should I be concerned about this? I have all the paperwork that shows why I was prescribed the antibiotic and for how long, and the prescription itself.

Will they understand the situation if a false positive!??

ChilgokBlackHole · Joined: 21 Nov 2009

Short answer: Don't worry, it doesn't work that way.

Long answer: Antibiotics are bioavailable for 30 days. And I've never heard of Cipro being a false positive for anything, and I couldn't fathom how it could test positive for opioids.

Tigerstyleone · Joined: 01 Feb 2009

I personally know someone who had an eye infection and was taking an antibiotic for it.
His drug test was positive.

You get 3 chances to take the drug test in 90 days.

The drug test is a total farce anyway. Alone in a bathroom to fill a cup.

northway · Joined: 05 Jul 2010

Mikazo · Joined: 10 Mar 2011

Any updates on this post? Has anyone had any problems with ciprofloxacin and the drug test?

Thanks.

southernman · Joined: 15 Jan 2010 Location: On the mainland again

Why worry,

You get 3 chances over 90 days and yes I know a PS teacher who used his 3 chances. He was medication when he arrived. He gave his co-teachers his reasons why he was faling, she was fine with it.

But still he was very happy when he passed

Mikazo · Joined: 10 Mar 2011

This is fine, but some infections are chronic and require long-term antibiotic use. Depending on the infection you may have to be on Cipro for a few months, and then it stays in your system for another month, so simply waiting until you get off of it may not be feasible. That's why it would really help to have input from someone who was on Cipro at the time of the test who can say whether it affected his or her results or not, and whether or not the testers took into account that he or she was on it.

jrwhite82 · Joined: 22 May 2010

If you have a long-term chronic health problem, do you think coming to a country where you won't have your doctor, medicine is practiced much differently and many doctors don't speak English is a good idea?

If you still think it's a good idea to come, I would say the lack of information about your antibiotic and false positives on drug tests stands as a strong indicator that you will pass the drug test easily. (provided you aren't up to any other shenanigans)

Good luck.

Mikazo · Joined: 10 Mar 2011

This is always a good point. In my case though it's a relatively minor infection that just so happens to need a pretty long regiment of antibiotics.

Guess I'll just have to play it by ear. Thanks for the input!

tomstar86 · Joined: 09 May 2009 Location: Daegu, South Korea

If you're worried, just ask a good friend to help you out.

One of my friends used to smoke cannabis every day for about 3-4 years. However, she quit roughly 6 months before coming to Korea. Obviously, she was worried about it still showing in her system because of the amount she smoked.

The solution?

A friend peed in a bottle for her, and when she had to take the cup to the bathroom, she took the bottle out of her bag and poured her friend's pee in the cup.

Problem solved!

Tom

http://waegook-tom.com

hogwonguy1979 · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: the racoon den

Mikazo · Joined: 10 Mar 2011

An update: I was on 500 mgs per day of cipro at the time of the drug test. I got my ARC so I am guessing there was no problem. Not sure if 1000 mgs would be a problem or not, but I'm just throwing this out there in case this comes up for anyone else.