You may think it would be obvious that ecstasy will show up on a drug test, but it's not always that simple. Even though ecstasy is a well-known street drug, not all drug tests will detect it. So, when does ecstasy show up on a drug test, and how can you stop it showing up?
Does ecstasy show up on a SAMHSA 5-panel drug test?
The SAMHSA 5-panel drug test is the most basic drug test you'll be expected to take. The five panels each focus on detecting a particular group of drugs, namely opiates, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, and PCP. Straight away, you will notice that ecstasy/MDMA isn't listed, so are you safe? You might be, but there are some important points to take into consideration.
Firstly, although ecstasy isn't an amphetamine, it has enough chemical similarities to potentially trigger the amphetamine panel. This may vary between different kits, and there's likely no way to know this in advance.
Secondly, some 5-panel testing devices may specifically look for ecstasy. For example, the Department of Transport now officially includes MDMA in the amphetamine panel of their 5 panel test.
Thirdly, it's not uncommon for street ecstasy to be cut with amphetamines. Even molly, which is supposed to be pure MDMA, is rarely the real deal. This inevitably means it may trigger a fail on the amphetamine panel.
So, does ecstasy show up on a drug test? It might not, but we strongly recommend that you assume it will.
Does ecstasy show up on an extended drug test?
Given the bad news in the previous section, it should come as no surprise that ecstasy will almost certainly show up in an extended drug test. These tests cover a much wider range of drugs, including many prescription drugs.
How can you stop ecstasy showing up on a drug test?
If you're wise, you'll assume there's a good chance that ecstasy will show up on a drug test. Is there a way to stop this happening? When will you be at risk of failing a urine drug test?
The good news is that ecstasy leaves the system much quicker than some other drugs, but you'll need a good few days of abstinence before a drug test. If you use it very rarely, something like three days should be enough. If you're a heavy user, make that five days. These are just guidelines, however, so depending on your body, you may need a longer detox.
If you don't have the luxury of waiting a few days for a drug test, you can always use a detox drink to swing the odds in your favor. One hour after using one of these, assuming you follow the prescribed routine, the concentration of toxins in your urine should be much lower. This will enable you to go to your test, give a urine sample as normal, and pass.
If none of the available detox drinks appeals to you, you can get detox pills instead.
