My PM doc had a talk with me for 'failing' my pain management drug test

[Hate to Feel]

I had an appoinment with my pain management doctor today and found out that I "failed" my drug test from January because I came up negative for opiates. If I recall correctly, I ran out of my 30 day script in about 25 days. I was basically told that if I "fail" another (not come up positive for what I am prescribed) he will be unable to script for me anymore.

As embarassing as the conversation kind of was, I'm kind of glad because it will make me more cognizant of how much I'm taking. I definitely don't want kicked out of pain management because I do have legit back problems that can't afford to go un-treated.

The reason for me going in early this month was due to my doc wanting me to try oxycontin 30mgs in place of the oxcodone IRs. As I mentioned in a separate thread earlier this week, the contin isn't nearly as helpful as the IRs, imo. Based on the responses I received in that thread, it seemed to be a consensus among most.

Just to confirm, oxycontin does come up the same as oxycodone IRs, correct? After discovering that I failed my January test this morning, he made me take another d/t prior to signing my script. I hadn't taken any oxycodone IRs in several days now, but I was taking the oxycontin over the weekend. So, I should be covered in that regard, right? At least, I hope ...

Is it safe to say others have "failed" their PM drug tests in the past? If so, how did your doc handle?

 

[Pagey]

Yes, oxycontin will come up the same as oxycodone IRs. They're both oxycodone, oxycontin is simply a suspended release version.

 

[Hate to Feel]

Yes, oxycontin will come up the same as oxycodone IRs. They're both oxycodone, oxycontin is simply a suspended release version.

That's what I thought. Thank you.

I definitely can't afford to 'fail' another.

 

[Swimmingdancer]

We don't normally allow questions about drug testing, but you aren't really asking the usual "will I pass my drug test" type of question, I think your concern is more how this could impact you and wanting to hear other's experiences with similar situations. Personally I think it's unfair that not taking your meds every single day automatically gives you a "fail" - it's not really on the same level as coming up positive for other drugs or something. Obviously their concern is that if people stop taking their meds for long enough to have the drug not show up in a drug test that means that they either: a) don't really need them; b) are using more than prescribed and then running out before their next script; or c) aren't taking them and are selling them. But what if someone is using them up a little faster than prescribed because they have legit pain that isn't being properly controlled by the dose they're on, or if someone is taking less than prescribed because their pain is not constant and so they only use their meds as needed? I would assume a reasonable doctor should ask the person WHY their drug test came up negative for the drug they are prescribed and consider whether any changes need to be made to their treatment or their rules regarding not taking they're meds. I think the problem would come from being dishonest with one's doctor. For example if someone had claimed they were taking their prescribed dose every day and then the test showed that was untrue. And of course it would also be problematic if a person repeatedly "failed" their test in this fashion after being told it was not ok.

Even though I don't think this really falls under the "no drug testing questions" rule, I don't think I can really leave it open because BDD doesn't really cover these types of speculative threads (every doctor and PM clinic is going to be different in how they handle such situations and it is going to depend a lot on one's individual circumstances) and I can't think of a different forum that would be acceptable to move it to. And Pagey already answered your question about different formulations of oxycodone both showing up as oxycodone. So I'm going to close this, I hope you can understand. Please PM me if you have any questions though