When selecting the best drug panel for a client, it’s essential to understand not only the drug class but also the specific drugs and metabolites that fall under it. A drug class is a group of related substances (for example, Amphetamines include Adderall, Vyvanse, Desoxyn, and others). Once taken, many of these drugs break down into metabolites. 

What are metabolites? 

A metabolite is a substance formed when the body processes a drug. Now there are different types of metabolites.

active metabolites, which are typically due to taking medication. i.e., Codeine is metabolized into Morphine, which provides pain-relieving effects.

Inactive metabolites no longer affect the body, but they can remain in the blood or urine for a longer period. For example, THC is metabolized into THC-COOH, which is an inactive metabolite, and that’s the main target in a drug test.

Why does this matter for drug testing?

Detection Window: The parent drug often disappears quickly, but metabolites can stay in urine, blood, or hair for much longer

 Panel Coverage: When a test says “Amphetamines,” it doesn’t just look for Adderall it screens for metabolites common to many amphetamine-type drugs (like amphetamine, methamphetamine, 4-hydroxyamphetamine).

Medical & Legal Value: Doctors can tell whether a patient is compliant with a prescription (e.g., taking Oxycodone should see Noroxycodone/Oxymorphone in their system).
Courts/employers can distinguish between legitimate medication use vs. illicit drug use.

Below is a breakdown of primary drug classes, their specific sub-drugs, and the metabolites that follow them.

Tree of Drugs from Classification of Metabolites

Alcohol

• Ethanol
• Acetaldehyde

Amphetamines

• Adderall → Amphetamine, Norephedrine, 4-hydroxyamphetamine, Dextroamphetamine
• Desoxyn → Methamphetamine, 4-hydroxymethamphetamine, amphetamine
• Dexedrine → Dextroamphetamine, 4-hydroxyamphetamine
• Dynavel → Amphetamine, Norephedrine, 4-hydroxyamphetamine
• Evekeo → Amphetamine, Norephedrine, 4-hydroxyamphetamine
• ProCentra → Dextroamphetamine, 4-hydroxyamphetamine
• Vyvanse → Lisdexamfetamine, Dextroamphetamine, L-lysine
• Zenzedi → Dextroamphetamine, 4-hydroxyamphetamine

Barbiturates

• Allurate → Aprobarbital, 3-hydroxy amobarbital
• Oramon → Aprobarbital, 3-hydroxy amobarbital
• Somnifaine → Aprobarbital, 3-hydroxy amobarbital
• Allonal → Aprobarbital, 3-hydroxy amobarbital
• Amytal → Amobarbital, 3′-hydroxyamobarbital, N-glucosidation
• Luminal → Phenobarbital, p-hydroxyphenobarbital
• Seconal → Secobarbital
• Butisol → Butabarbital, 5-ethyl-5-(1-methyl-2-carboxyethyl)

Benzodiazepines

• Xanax / Niravam → Alprazolam, 4-hydroxyalprazolam, α hydroxyalprazolam
• Librax → Chlordiazepoxide, Desmethylchlordiazepoxide, Demoxepam, Nordazepam, Oxazepam
• Onfi → Clobazam, N-desmethylclobazam
• Klonopin → Clonazepam, 7-aminoclonazepam, 7-acetaminoclonazepam, 3-hydroxy clonazepam
• Tranxene → Clorazepate, Desmethyl-diazepam
• Valium → Diazepam, Nordiazepam, Temazepam, Oxazepam, TG, Oxazepam glucuronide
• ProSom → Estazolam, 4-hydroxyestazolam
• Dalmane → Flurazepam, N-desalkylflurazepam
• Ativan → Lorazepam, Lorazepam glucuronide, quinazolinone, quinazoline carboxylic acid, hydroxylorazepam isomers
• Versed → Midazolam, Alpha-1 hydroxy midazolam
• Serax → Oxazepam (also metabolite)
• Restoril → Temazepam (also metabolite)
• Halcion → Triazolam, Alpha-hydroxytriazolam

Cannabinoids

• Marijuana (Delta-8, Delta-9, Delta-10) → 11-Nor-9-carboxy THC (THC-COOH)
• CBD → 7-Hydroxy-CBD

Cocaine

• Benzoylecgonine (BE)
• Ecgonine methyl ester (EME)

Hallucinogens

• Dextromethorphan (DXM) → Dextrorphan
• Ketamine → Norketamine, Dehydronorketamine, Hydroxynorketamine
• LSD → 2-oxo-3-hydroxy LSD
• Mescaline/Peyote → Trimethoxyphenylacetic acid
• MDMA (ecstasy/molly) → MDA, O-demethylated
• DMT → DMT-NO, IAA
• PCP → PCHP, PPC, PCAA
• Psilocybin (Shrooms) → 4-hydroxyindole-3-acetaldehyde, 4-hydroxytryptophol, 4-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid
• Salvinorin A → N-demethyl-LSD (nor-LSD), 2-oxo-LSD, 2-oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD, 13-hydroxy-LSD, 14-hydroxy-LSD

Opioids

• Actiq / Duragesic → Fentanyl, Norfentanyl, Despropionylfentanyl
• Buprenorphine → Norbuprenorphine
• Codeine → Morphine
• Dilaudid → Hydromorphone, Hydromorphone-3-glucuronide
• Demerol → Meperidine, Normeperidine
• Dolophine → Methadone, EDDP
• Heroin → 6-Acetylmorphine (6-AM)
• MS Contin → Morphine, M3G, M6G
• Opana → Oxymorphone, Oxymorphone-3-glucuronide, Oxymorphone-6-G
• Oxycodone products (Oxycontin, Percocet, Percodan, Roxicodone) → Oxycodone, Noroxycodone, Oxymorphone
• Quaalude → Methaqualone, 2′-hydroxy, 3′-hydroxy
• Tramadol → Tramadol hydrochloride, O-desmethyltramadol (M1), N-desmethyltramadol (M2)

Steroids

• Anadrol-50 → Oxymetholone, Mestanolone (17α-methyl-DHT)
• Oxandrin / Anavar → Oxandrolone
• Winstrol → Testosterone, DHT, Estradiol
• Dianabol → Metandienone, Hydroxymethyl
• Equipoise → Boldenone Undecylenate, BM1