Home remedies for passing drug tests sound good, but do they really work…? Well, it depends on the remedy you’re considering. Some are definitely effective to one degree or another, but some are only urban legends gone horribly, horribly wrong. Here’s some information to help you sift through all the myths about home remedies for passing drug tests.
Any discussion about how to pass a drug test should start with the basics, which is that THC metabolites are stored in your body’s fat cells. Over time your body just naturally cycles them out, and they get flushed out in your urine. Every time you smoke you’re putting more metabolites into your fat cells, but at the same time they’re always leaving your body when you pee. Remember this, because these basic facts help to explain how some of the most persistent myths about home remedies for passing drug tests got started in the first place.
Home Remedies for Passing Drug Tests That Actually Work (More or Less)
1. Water
No doubt you’ve heard about dilution for passing a urine drug test. It’s true that it will help you pass, but probably not the way you think it will. The information you’ll see being passed around about dilution is that you have to start drinking as much water as you can for days, or even weeks, before your drug test. WRONG. What you really have to do is drink as much water as you can during the few hours right before your test. By overloading your kidneys in a short time frame, you dilute your urine to the point where there aren’t enough THC metabolites in it to register on a test.
Dilution is the method by which commercial detox drinks work, but I included it here because it’s so easy to do the same thing at home. You just have to take some common supplements that make your urine appear to be undiluted. These are the same supplements that are in detox drinks, but they’re much cheaper (and usually more reliable) if you buy them yourself. Of all the home remedies for passing drug tests that are out there, dilution is by far the one that’s most likely to actually help you pass a drug test (assuming you’re getting a urine test, that is).
2. Diuretics
Diuretics by themselves are useless for passing a drug test. But when you combine them with dilution, then you’ve got a winning combo. In order to really get your urine clear of THC metabolites you’ve not only got to drink a lot of fluids, you’ve also got to pee a lot to flush them out of your system quickly. Diuretics aren’t necessarily a requirement for how to pass a drug test using dilution, but they can be a big help.
3. Cranberry Juice/Capsules
Cranberry is a mild diuretic, so it can be helpful for the same reason as any diuretic is. Somehow it’s reached a legendary status as the Big Daddy of home remedies for passing drug tests, but believe me – there’s nothing magical about cranberry juice. If the only thing you do to pass a urine test is take cranberry capsules or drink cranberry juice, it just ain’t gonna be enough. But – combined with dilution, cranberry can be very helpful.
4. Exercising
To get rid of fat you exercise, right? And since THC metabolites are stored in fat cells, losing weight (real weight, not just water weight from taking diuretics) helps you cut down on the amount of metabolites your body stores at any given time. The problem with this, though, is that it takes a long time to lose a significant amount of weight. If by some wild chance you have so much advance notice that you could work on losing weight in order to pass a drug test, why put yourself through all that stress? You could just quit smoking pot altogether for 4-8 weeks and you’d be clean anyway. But one really good argument for losing weight is that the less body fat you have, the less time it takes for THC metabolites to leave your system after you quit smoking.
Whatever you do, don’t go overboard with exercising in the week just prior to your test – losing weight at that time will work against you, since it means more metabolites are being flushed out of your system than you might want on your test day. However, if you already work out regularly then you don’t need to stop. Exercise won’t cause you to lose weight (and fat cells) if you’re already pretty fit to begin with.
Home Remedies for Passing Drug Tests That Definitely DON’T Work
1. Niacin
This myth seems to have started as a result of a book written in the ’70s by L. Ron Hubbard, called ‘Clear Body, Clear Mind’. In case you don’t recognize his name, L. Ron Hubbard was the founder of the controversial Church of Scientology. In his book, Hubbard (who didn’t have any medical or nutritional training, by the way) laid out a detoxification program that he claimed would help people get rid of all the toxins in their bodies, including prescription and non-prescription drugs, and pesticides. Niacin was one of the things he recommended. Somewhere along the line, someone trying to pass a drug test probably just thought Niacin = Detox, and the legend began.
Of all the home remedies for passing drug tests you’ll hear about, taking massive doses of niacin is by far the most dangerous. Our bodies only need about 15mg per day. People trying to pass drug tests commonly take 50-100 times the recommended daily dose, which can cause permanent damage to your liver. Just google ‘niacin poisoning’ to read about people who have ended up in emergency rooms from a niacin overdose.
If you’re thinking about using niacin to pass a drug test, here is the bottom line: small doses help to detox your liver – but since THC metabolites are stored in your fat cells, not your liver, that means niacin is absolutely useless for passing a drug test for marijuana.
2. Vinegar
The only thing vinegar does is change the PH of your urine, if you add it to your urine after you pee. I’m not too sure how this one got started. At any rate, it’s one more home remedy that’s totally useless for passing a drug test, since current testing methods routinely check for this adulterant.
3. Bleach
Another adulterant that labs routinely test for. Maybe this one got started when someone had the bright idea of ‘cleaning’ their urine. I’m going to guess that many years ago (before drug testing labs got savvy) someone passed their test this way, and even though modern test methods can detect common adulterants like this today, for some reason it’s a myth that just won’t die. Whatever you do, don’t be stupid enough to actually drink it. Miniscule amounts are safe for purifying drinking water in an emergency, but it’s easy to go overboard.
4. Phenylpropanolamine
Phenylpropanolamine was the active ingredient in an over-the-counter appetite suppressant called Dexatrim. You can’t get phenylpropanolamine without a prescription any longer, since it apparently made your heart beat erratically and increased your risk of stroke. The dangers aside, it isn’t any good for passing a drug test anyway. Vets use it today to help prevent incontinence in aging dogs. In other words, it’s used to help dogs stop peeing. The exact opposite of what you want if you’re going to flush THC from your urine. Another one of those home remedies for passing drug tests that are not only useless, but dangerous.
5. Goldenseal
Goldenseal was never effective for helping anyone pass a urine test for weed, however it was somewhat effective for helping people pass tests for other classes of drugs, like opiates. Which is why labs routinely test for it now, so don’t even go there.
6. Certo (Also Known As Sure Jell)
I saved the best for last: the ever-popular Certo Method For Passing a Drug Test. Certo and Sure Jell are brand names for pectin, which is a gelling agent made from plants and it’s used to make things like jam (so you can spread jam on your toast with a knife, instead of pouring it on like syrup). Pectin is technically a dietary fiber, and it passes through your intestines more or less intact (in other words, your body doesn’t absorb it).
The legend goes like this: Certo coats your stomach, which is somehow supposed to prevent THC metabolites from getting into your urine. This theory falls apart when you realize that metabolites are cycled out of your body through your kidneys, when you pee. Last I checked, your stomach isn’t in any way connected to your kidneys, so as far as home remedies to pass a drug test go, I give this one the award for being the silliest.
I can see why people get fooled into thinking this works, though. If you read on a forum where someone is giving instructions on how to pass a urine test this way, they ALWAYS include drinking lots of water along with the Certo / Sure-Jell. So if you pass, it’s because you diluted, not because you used Certo. And if you’re lucky enough to be tested in a lab that doesn’t perform authenticity tests for dilution, I can see why someone would think that Certo helped them pass their drug test. Problem is, most labs do check for dilution, so more people fail using this method than are actually helped by it.
There are definitely home remedies for passing drug tests that will help you, but the reality is that most of what you’ll hear about is based on rumors and myths passed around by people who either got lucky, or are just repeating something they heard. It is absolutely possible to pass a drug test, but you should gather all the information you can and use your common sense before deciding on which method to use.
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It’s quite easy to pass a test. Niacin lots of water lots of sweating and exercise and the darkest juices you can find, or cranberry extract. Combine them all. You’ll be “clean” in about 3 days tops, but to get back to zero THC metabolites will take a chronic smoker longer.
I do forensic drug testing for a major corp….the methods are not as u think they are. there are many things we test on…color..ph..and additives also. I smoke as well…so I’m able to test my own. Red bull daily is an effective flush along with water…..lots of water. And to keep color after all the water…take a b12 pill so your urine isnt clear. But u have to quit within 2 weeks of testing. And as far as niacin..its dangerous to take on its own in large amounts…plus it can be painful…skin burns..rash..itching..not worth it. Plus…we now test for the “legal weed” synthetics…so ya’ll be careful n good luck:)
water time exersise niacin green tea nd cranberry juice 4 14 days and u will b clean.i was.
Ok I’m 128 pounds I’m 5’6& tha last time i smoked weed was tha first week of aug.i haven’t smoked since then&all I’ve been doin is drinking water&workn out..I have a pee test on the 30th of this month ..will I pass my drug test&is there a way to I NEED ANSWERS
Im tired of seeing dumb comments like people expecting to be clean in 7 hours, or after smoking the night before or even after being clean a week, look chances are if thats the case you wont pass so be realistic, here I hope this answers everyones questions, this is the Marijuana Detection Time Based on Usage, pretty much how long it will stay based on how much you smoke, Usage at 1 time only 5-8 days
Usage at 2-4 times per month 11-18 days
Usage at 2-4 times week 23-35 days
Usage at 5-6 times per week 33-48 days
Daily Usage 49-63 days
Hey lefty! Your comment is the best one on here! I have a question for you! I smoke lightly 2-5 times a week, and I may have to take a urine test around oct 15, I haven’t smoked in two days and all I drink is tea and water, no sodas. I exercise and weigh about 165 and am 5’5″. I do exercise and have prescription meds but do not abuse them. So those I’m not worried about. So do you think that I will be ok? I’m not gonna go spend money on pee clean cus I cant wipe out my meds know what I mean. And your info is by far the best on here! Your input would be greatly appreciated! I’m a very active mother of a 3 year old as well so I’m always very busy! I use marijuana for pain and aniexty, I’d rather put it in my body than my pain meds and aniexty meds! But it’s illegal!! BOOO thanks for your post and please get back to me soon! Thanks again Lefty!!
Confused Girl I wanted to know if you got a reply?
all u have to do is take some visine in there when u piss and drop a couple drops in da cup in always works 10000%
Dose the cosine really work ive got a wife and 3 boys are counting on me to come home and not jail
DAM YOU SAVED ME FROM DRINKING WATER FOR THE REMAINDER OF TIME TILL MY TEST!!!! THANX
Hi i am in serious need of your help, go tomorrow for orientation for an urgent care job. I smoke weed but hvent for 5 days now, i took a home test and it tested positive!!! ow can i get my system clean before tomorow, I have about 12 hours. i m a very petite female i am 5’4″ and weigh 100 pounds, i mainly smoked at night as i went to bed. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME!!!
I smoked 23 days ago, I have a test tomorrow! Im 18 and my metabolism is pretty fast. Im pretty skinny 5ft 8 an 130lbs. Ive taken a niacin pill and went on a few runs and have been drinking a lot of water and for the past three days just eating soup and salad. I smoke a lot of good quallitty bud which is veryy bad for my situation i know… i have also been in the steam room for 30 mins two times a day for two days.. You think im gunna pass?
Please read your post before you post stop making us potheads look dumb.
Water before works best I’ve done it more times I can think, wait about a day before and just keep drinking make sure urine is clear before you go and don’t eat about an hour or two before and no bread like foods!!!!
Dude if ur urine is clear that just means your hydrated when ur urine is yellow it’s telling your body that it needs fluids
My mam has to see his po tomorro last use was sat. Were gonna try the ctanberry nd water. Ill let ya kno hoe it turns out
Did yo pass your drug test with cranberry juice and water?
Iam 40yrs old 160lb I have smoked Meth and pot daily for yrs
I have three days before I have to take a drug test.
What do I do?
i dont know if i will be gettin drug tested but i know that i am suppose to be gettin off papers soon for one charge and still gotta go check in for another . and i havent been tested at all so i know it will happen eventually . and i only smoked one time the other day and i havent for a year . so how long you think it will take to get outta my system ? and what should i do . im like 5’4 and 150 lbs. (if that matters)
i hate to tell ya but ive never faile da pisstest using niacin. like a few pills before bed forlike 3 days. its crazy but its true. andddd hydrogen peroxide for mouthswabs hasnt let me down yet although i still worry cuz i am not god
Ok people if u dirty why risk it a job is more important than weed use someone else pee women u knw put the pee in a pill bottle put it in between ur legsfor a couple of hours so its body temp and men put it in a condom and do the same u mite want to wear briefs I passed plenty time like this or u can take 2 penicillin or amoxicillin a day 3 days prior to your test drink plenty water no soda and put a cap full of vinegar in ur water my ex was on papers the whole year we talked and I watches him do that and pass everytime but the best thing to do is stop smoking I been smoking since 8th grade and in 23 and now my job is drug testing so I quit its the best thing to do and I’m a jamaican who loves weed but my fam house and car is more important good luck yall
So I got a u/a in about 24 hours, n I just took a puff, although I am a everyday smoker. I need to pass this u/a tomorrow. I’ve been slamming water n drinking grape m cranberry juice for the past day and a half. I got a vale detox pill but idk if its gonna do anything. Does anyone have any suggestions that could me out? I cannot fail it tomorrow.
i have a drug test tomorrow and i bought sure jell , and cranberry juice. and ive been drinking water and the cranberry juice. i also did the sure jell thing. did you pass your drug test ?
I went for an interview today & they said they’d call people tomorrow(saturday dec. 10th) to let them know if they got the job. I know they give saliva tests. I smoked late last night & none today. I also took pain pills yesterday & today. So my question is IF I HAVE TO TAKE A SALIVA TEST TOMORROW IS THERE ANYWAY POSSIBLE I CAN PASS MY TEST???
I have about 7 hrs to clean out for a random ua and I have smoked within the last 24 hours. what can I do to pass. I just learned that I have to take one, can you help
Vinegar and water do work I’ve done this for the pass ten yrs and I’ve passed the drug test within a 3 day time frame. All you have to do the moment they tell you you have to take a drug test you start mixing water, cranberry juice, and vinegar apple cider together and take at least 5 bottles of water through out the whole day and it will make you go pee at least 4 or more x and keep on doing it until the 3day that u go to take the drug test and just put it in the bottle of water. It works for me 100%
i smoke 5days ago and have a interview in 6days but i smoke 2 time last month.. and it been years since then .iam a big guy 6ft 7in and 340pb will it help me pass .. this is a once in a life time job
this kicks ass its all logical and is what ive been basing my encounters with drug tests on.. 1)limit your smoking 2)workout and stay moderately fit and the thc wont stay in your body too long. ive passed tests as early as 2 days after smokin
i have to take a piss test tomorrow and i smoked last night what do i do?
You are screwed lol
what if u havent smoked for 3 days
so is drinking water for the first few hours realy the keyand would it hurt to drink crannberry juice with it just to over loud the kidnes
drink some Herbal Clean, comes in a grape flavor. and another flavor but i forgot. Okay 2 days before my drug test i drank 2 bottles of this stuff followed by lot of water. herbal clean is a toxin. I went in for a swab drug test, they no longer do pee test here, and 8 days later i was told my test came back good, not sure if it was the water or the herbal clean but either way im good! yaay
I smoked last night around midnight (about half a bowl) and got called in today around 4pm for a random saliva test. I smoke everyday but hadn’t smoked a lot this weekend. When I got called and told to go to HR for the test I immediately put a piece of orbitz mint gum in my mouth and rubbed toothpaste in my gums and didn’t rinse. I smoke cigarettes and take adipex (with a prescription) every day too and had taken my adipex this morning, smoked about 6 cigarettes, and also had taken a water pill this morning. I am a 33 yr old female 5’9 about 180lbs. I’m a nervous mess. Does anyone have an idea if the toothpaste could have helped me? It makes me nervous b/c it had only been about 15 hours since I smoked.
no toothpaste doesnt work what i do is gargle with hydrogen peroxide
i thought tHc was only in saliva 12hrs
12-24 hrs is the ‘average’. But for some people it can be a lot longer. The vast majority of people are clean in 2-3 days, tops. For a very few random people, it can be a week or two.
So the problem is, unless you test yourself you don’t know which category you’re in. But odds are you’ll be clean in 12-24 hrs, like 75% of folks.
I my have a chance at a job and I heard they will be doing mouth swabs. I have to go there tomorrow and Im terrified they may test me. How can I pass this?
drink a coke a cola seen it work
For what kinda test?
I’m kinda late but I’ve seen people that pass a mouth swab AFTER smoking a blunt all they did was brush their teeth really good and use mouth wash, that and they sucked on the cotton swab instead of soaking it in their spit like theyre supposed to do. Mouth swabs are more for finding meth and stuff other than marijuana.