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Can certain herbs affect a UA for drugs?

I am a paralegal and am trying to get some information.  Perhaps if you cannot answer my question you can direct me elsewhere.  We have a client who has tested positive at her last two UA's for amphetamines and methamphetamines and she has not used either.  What she has been taking is NaturalTrim diet pills made by Starlight International.  The ingredients of this diet pill are bladderwrack, goldenrod leaf, parsley leaf, uva ursi leaf, ephedra sinica, corn silk pistils, hawthorn berries, fumitory herb, cascara sagrada bark, licorice root, marshmallow root, magnesium, apple pectin, chromium, citric acid, potassium, calcium.  Would any of these herbs affect her analysis?  She is very adamant that she has not used, and I believe her.  I would appreciate any assistance you can give me.
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Avatar universal
will uva ursi affect a drug test
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Avatar universal
Linda,

I would say more than likely it is the Ephedra Sinica, also known as Ma Huang and Epitonin in some formulas. It is a stimulant, and may even be chemically related enough to amphetamines and methamphetamines to create a false positive for these drugs.
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Avatar universal
hey colleeen.  thanks for your honesty.  i have tapered now from 3.5 to 1 and 1/2 pills taken at 6 hr. intervals.  i started at 3.5 and went down to 3 fow 3 days, than 2.5 for three days then 2.25 for three days, then 2 for three days, and now am down to 1/2 3 times a day.  it has been a little uncomfortable, but not too bad.  the anxiety part is the worst, but going very slowly and eliminating a smaller amount each time,(being a smaller percentage) is working for me.  i will continue 1/2 pill 2 times a day to get through weekend, and then mon. i'll take 1/2 in the am, 1/4 in the middle of the day, and 1/2 at night.  the next step will be to eliminate the afternoon dose.  then down to 1/4 pill morning and night, than 1/4 pill in morning, than none.  i've learned this on this forum.  taper slow or the discomfort will send u right back to them.  i'm back into my aa heavily, and am praying my ass off.  i pray never to be tempted to start up again.  they will own you if you don't surrender to the fact that you are powerless over them.  when i am off of them completely, the rest of my stash is going down the toilet and i will celebrate!!  keep posting.  it helps us all.
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Avatar universal
There are many natural herbs and products that act as stimulants and some that act as sedatives...this is nothing new. Most of the are entirely safe with some have a few safe guards. But if a test shows + for a prescription or ilegal drug, then that is different than results indicating an "unknown" substance which means it is not even testing for an unlisted chemical. In other words, if you get caught...its easy to blame something to run away from the fact you are probably covering for drug use.
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From what I understand from the literature I have been reading, there is a note about the product containing ephedrine alkaloids, and I would assume other ingredients as well.  Might I suggest you try to link with the website at www.starlightonline.com.  Perhaps you can get information from someone higher up with more detailed information. Good luck.
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Avatar universal
I'm pretty sure that ephedra would result in a positive UA for amphetamines - pseudoephedrine & ephedrine (active ingredient in ephedra) are precursers for manufacture of amphetamine.
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Avatar universal
I am an herbalist in private practice and have never heard of this problem. Frequently, people ask me for an herb that will cover or block a drug test from being positive, but I do
not respond to these questions. For an herb to produce a positive test for amphetamines would also be to say that if you take herbs that acts as depressant then you will test positive for barbituates. Consuming large amounts of nutmeg will make you hallucinate so then will you test positive for hallucingenic drugs? The reliability of urine drug tests vary and people tend to blame anything and everything for the problems they think they may or may not have. Many of my clients will blame a product for a side effect when what they are experiencing is a low blood sugar or carbohydrate withdrawals from trying to lose weight. If this idea of an herb producing a positive drug test were true...even an good anaylsis should be able to show the active ingredients or chemicals present. If so, it would be easy to determine if the stimulant was natural or chemical.
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Avatar universal
I apologize if I read the post wrong, many diet supplements have ephedrine which is a stimululant and could have messed with her U.A. but if it came back positive for methamphetamine or a prescription Amphetameine then one would have a question that may be unanswered and she could possibly be using another stimulant.  But I'm not pointing fingers.
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Avatar universal
evidently you don't trust her or you wouldn't be asking these questions.  You have confronted her and she has passed her U. A. and now you are stretching it by attacking a diet supplement whether you agree with it or not it is legal to possess its an over the counter drug.  And yes their are ways to fool a U. A. but your going to have to search this on your own time.  It seems that you have a bone to pick with her so I would suggest you take it up with her.
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Avatar universal
Ephedra is comprised of ephedrine, an amphetamine.  It is responsible for many "false positives."
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Avatar universal
funny you should bring that up today, i was having incredable headaches andi was taking what your client is taking. the doctor told me the ingredent, "ephedra sinica"? behaves a lot like amphedimines in the body and would even cause a u.a. to come back positive. So that is from my docs mouth. i hope it helps. oh by the way...that was the source of my high blood preasure and bad headache.not very plessant all around. i might advise your client to discontinue. good luck
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