Alcohol & Other Drugs: Testing & Metabolism

Q: can synephrine creat a false/positive in a drug urine test and is it a form of ephedra?

A: Synephrine is derived from the fruit of a plant called Citrus aurantium. It is not derived from the same plant as ephedera but, Synephrine is chemically very similar to the ephedrine and pseudo-ephedrine found in many over-the-counter cold/allergy medications and in a number of weight loss and energy supplements. Since it acts as a mild stimulant it may create a false positive in a drug screening for illegal stimulant drugs. -- Spot (August 25, 2003)