Sonicstud85
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Can you get sacked for failing a random drug test?
Couldn’t see a thread on this.
asking for a mate.
Couldn’t see a thread on this.
asking for a mate.
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Can you take viagra and not declare it.....
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If in doubt declare it.
tiptoptaff
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In short, yes you can. If you're caught taking something, anything, that if declared would have taken you off track, you can, and probably will be, sacked.
Declare it.
cactustwirly
Established Member
Yeah, it's very easy to detect, I'd definitely declare it.
I'm sure that if it's for a medical use, then they are very unlikely to sack you if you declare it beforehand
causton
Established Member
And that has made all the difference.
Viagra is dangerous for people with a medical condition. See your GP before using to make sure its safe for you.
But if you need it it may well be because of an underlying condition. less than healthy cardio-vascular, jaundice (problems with liver/gall bladder) ,vitamin deficiencies or low testosterone (hypogonadism) will not help. Fixing those may well make viagra unnecessary. An ecg and a some bloods will check for that lot.
Also check you are drinking enough water. dehydration wont help either. Remember, a night on the booze will cause dehydration so you need to drink lots next morning.
But if you need it it may well be because of an underlying condition. less than healthy cardio-vascular, jaundice (problems with liver/gall bladder) ,vitamin deficiencies or low testosterone (hypogonadism) will not help. Fixing those may well make viagra unnecessary. An ecg and a some bloods will check for that lot.
Also check you are drinking enough water. dehydration wont help either. Remember, a night on the booze will cause dehydration so you need to drink lots next morning.
tiptoptaff
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If you don't declare it, you'll get shafted?
Could be a “hard” medical...
The penalty for failing a drugs test is quite stiff and it would be hard to get a job at another TOC. Even if you pass, failing to declare medication catches you between a rock and a hard place.
My TOC takes a hard line on this and you will lose your job. I would recommend 'your friend' is straight up about this.
monkeyskillz
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Hahahahaha This. This!!!
My understanding of sports drug tests is that there is a list of banned substances.
I would assume a TOC would have such a list and it would be available to staff.
I would look at that. And maybe ask a pharmacist because generic drug names on the TOC list may be different from trade names.
I would assume a TOC would have such a list and it would be available to staff.
I would look at that. And maybe ask a pharmacist because generic drug names on the TOC list may be different from trade names.
paulwestwood
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You are told if you have to take any type of medication that you call resources who can then get confirmed with Chemist / Doctors wether you can still work will be taken off trains.
This is drummed in right from the off when joining the railway.
This is drummed in right from the off when joining the railway.
There are thousands of medicines available. Last time I went to the Doctors, my Doc has to look up the medication I had requested to take. It is also dynamically changing all the time. The best example is Hay fever tablets. They reformulate all the time and each year it can change. There are some that are well known to be acceptable but the procedure MUST be followed each time. The procedure is robust and if one of the most important safeguards of the railway.
Pretty much every time you ring up to check your medication they will ask for the ingredients.
so if you take some night nurse you have to declare it?
Wow.
The basic rule is anything and everything. I had this same discussion with a mate last weekend.
Night Nurse makes you drowsy - You ain't gonna be taking that. Part of the reasons you get medication checked is because of the side effects. Cough and cold medication is a minefield. General rule - anything with 'plus' can't be taken; mostly due to having codeine. Many cold and flu medications can cause drowsiness. For the cost of a quick phone call, is it worth the risk ?
To take it back a step. Why are you taking the medication ? If I woke up with a horrible head cold then I doubt I would count myself 'fit for duty' If I felt I needed to take some form of medication then again, I doubt I would be considered 'fit for duty'
tiptoptaff
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There's an accepted level of common sense, which means you don't need to call up every time you take a paracetamol. And once you've declared and had it cleared once, you don't need to declare each time you take it. If it takes you off track, then you do need to declare each use.
We (resources) have some guidance and pre-approved stuff we can approve straight off. But we also use an on call chemist to check for us. Which, incidentally, can be stricter than what our Occu Health dept. will allow.
We (resources) have some guidance and pre-approved stuff we can approve straight off. But we also use an on call chemist to check for us. Which, incidentally, can be stricter than what our Occu Health dept. will allow.
tiptoptaff
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If you're unsure, ask.
The parameters are naturally going to be strict for driving a train, or any safety critical job to be fair. As Tiptoptaff said, there needs to be a certain amount of common sense involved. For the benefit of a medical pre-recruitment, you’re asked in grave detail about any meds you’re on, and also have to declare taking paracetamol sometimes (I even declared a lemsip). This isn’t because they’re not allowed, but when the sample is sent to the lab, you could get a ‘false positive’. Naturally at recruitment stage, any positive results will mean any conditional offer or similar will be withdrawn. If you’ve declared everything, it’s easier to discount false positives.
Regarding safety critical medical sin general (non-driver), they’re not AS stringent. You won’t have an ECG for a non-driver medical for example. I seem to recall the urine was tested just for drugs on the last medical I had before more driver one (it was a safety critical medical, just not for a driver job). There’s no blood tests involved in any medical on the railway, just urine samples (I’d prefer blood tests to be honest).
Eyesight - Snellen scale and colour vision
Hearing - sound proof room
ECG - Heart rhythm etc
BP
BMI and general check up
D&A test
You have several questionaries to fill out pre-medical.
Regarding safety critical medical sin general (non-driver), they’re not AS stringent. You won’t have an ECG for a non-driver medical for example. I seem to recall the urine was tested just for drugs on the last medical I had before more driver one (it was a safety critical medical, just not for a driver job). There’s no blood tests involved in any medical on the railway, just urine samples (I’d prefer blood tests to be honest).
Eyesight - Snellen scale and colour vision
Hearing - sound proof room
ECG - Heart rhythm etc
BP
BMI and general check up
D&A test
You have several questionaries to fill out pre-medical.
whoosh
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I'm sure I've seen this drug mentioned on a list somewhere as having to be clear of it for a period of time (something like a couple of days), so it would need to be declared.
Just declare it.
I got into a spot of bother a while ago failing to declare antibiotics. Although the antibiotics were fine to continue working - it showed as a "undeclared drug" in the results and resulted in a "tea but no biscuits" meeting with management.
I think some drugs affect the type of tests they do on your urine test (to isolate a false positive).
I got into a spot of bother a while ago failing to declare antibiotics. Although the antibiotics were fine to continue working - it showed as a "undeclared drug" in the results and resulted in a "tea but no biscuits" meeting with management.
I think some drugs affect the type of tests they do on your urine test (to isolate a false positive).
Gee whiz I just spat my beer out! Bravo!
You're supposed to swallow...
randyrippley
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besides effects on blood pressure, viagra / sildenafil can affect colour vision by imparting a blue haze
You’re in so much trouble for that post Jon...
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