drug test from my doc. - Pain Management Message Board

madhatter · 08-16-2005, 07:44 AM

Hi group! This never happened to me before,my doc. requested a drug test,in a way,i felt kind of offended, she sent me a letter in the mail saying everything was normal\stay active. Anyone ever taking one of these tests?

feelbad · 08-16-2005, 08:23 AM

If you are seeing a pain doc, we all have had this done or will have it done at some point.They are just trying to cover their butts here and making sure you are not taking anything that you are not supposed to be.They check to make sure you are actually taking the meds and not diverting them too.i felt kinda wierd at the request I had too but since this is written into my contract, and i had nothing to hide from them ,i really just felt that this was part of my contracted therepy,you know?just the way things are no real reason to feel offended.i am sure you were just one of many that got that same request that day.time to move on now MH,have a good day.Marcia

Otter66 · 08-16-2005, 08:53 AM

It's in 90% of the pain-clinic contract that people sign b4 they will prescribe opiates; The doc's want to 1) make sure you are taking your meds (and not selling them) and 2) that you are not taking anything illegal. I don't know how long you have been w/your doc, but I take a urine (since opiates show-up in urine best, in hair rarely or not at all) about every 6th or 7th visit. I am curious... Did they charge you for the test? I have been billed $200/test for the past 6 tests ( and I have great insurance, which pays all of the other costs including the scripts). Only recently did they stop billing the extra $. Interestingly, I looked at my insurance letter to see what the labs charged my insurance.... $1,260 for the identical test!!! Talk about a scam.

Otter66

feelbad · 08-17-2005, 06:26 AM

I have to pay 75.00 out of my own pocket when they do a test on me as well.Kinda stupid when it IS a doc ordered test.Any other lab tests that I have had over the years,are always paid in full by my ins co.this is really stupid.after my first test, I kept getting this bill over and over from a hospital that no one in my family had ever even been to,so I ignored it.When I finally started getting phone calls from them asking for my payment,THATS when I fially found out just what it was for.Really stupid.marcia

Shoreline · 08-17-2005, 12:49 PM

I got a B+ but didn't get to study for the test.LOL
It's actually becoming very normal, the problem is the cost, Insurance isn't going to want to pay for random UA's but so often. It's not medically necesarry. It's to cover docs butts and to apease the DEA. Hopefully your dose is high enough to make the 150-300 ngs per ml and they are using a test capable of finding the med your taking. Many test can't find the synthtic keto class, Hydocodone, Oxycodone, Oxymophone and Hydromorphone.

Morphine, codeine and heroin are easy to find but I've seen 3 cases where I beleve the patient took the meds and got false negatives. I have documentation of the inacuracy of testing for synthtics. The canadian health ministry, the US armed forces and NIH all know only specific test will find the specific synthetics, then you have the problem of reaching the magic number of nanograms rer ML to call it positive. 20 mgs of oxy twice a day likely won't do it. But it's part of the fun of being a CP patient.

I have a contract , they tested me at the beginning but can test at any time they want. With the pump I think they will be a little less inclined and doing monthly pill counts and fill dates being checked should be a deterant enough but the UA's show the DEA how vigalant the doc or clinic is being about ensuring there isn't diverson going on, or they aren't treating street drug abusers.

Personally I think it's an invasion of privacy done without probable cause or a warrant, but if you want to be treated you must comply.
Keep studying and you won't have a problem with the test.

Hope things are going well for everyone. Dave