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false negative for morphine but false positive for vicodin!!
I am really glad that I found this forum...I am currently in as state of shock over what just took place at my own pain management doctors office. I have herniated lumbar discs which have also caused nerve damage, degenerative disc disease and buldging cervical discs. I have been on morphine for about 4 years, extended release and instant release. Last month the doctor gave ALL patients a urine test and when I got there today he said "we have a problem"...I was shocked and asked "what?" He said "the results of your urinalysis are in and they came back negative for morphine and positive for vicodin, I can only write you one months prescription and you will have to find another pain management doctor"... I was shocked!! I said "No way.. there is a mistake!!! I take my morphine like clockwork!! Every 12 hours!! I get home from filling my prescriptions and I take out 4 seven day pill containers and label them with each date... I put each days dose in each date and they go into a lockbox. I have not and did not take any vicodin!!" I insisted he retest me. I know there is a mistake. He said "no, it's a $900 test" he also added "the problem is not with finding the vicodin but with the morphine coming back negative"... HOW?? I insisted to him that the lab must have transposed the two drugs... but he refused to retest me and has now released me from his care!!! Does anyone know how this could happen?? I always, always take my morphine as prescribed!! I did NOT take any vicodin because it violates my contract that I have with him!! (as well as I don't have it nor do I like it!!) I don't know what to do! I even had a tooth extracted a week before that urinalysis and did NOT accept any pain meds from the dentist because it would have violated my contract with him!! The only other things I have taken are fioricet which is prescribed by him for migraines, "benadryl" which he told me to take every night because I never get a full nights sleep due to the pain. Also "Orajel and anbesol" for the tooth extraction pain. I am also a large coca-cola drinker!! I am literally in a state of shock because I know these results are wrong!! any help would greatly be appreciated!!!
Its too bad they wont admit that the tests AND the STAFF are not infallible. I have seen the physiatrist again, he tried eliminating my instant released morphine and gave me 1 week of time released and the name of yet another doctor!! I thought that because I was on time released morphine I would not have withdrawal from the instant released morphine........Boy was I wrong!!!
It all depends on the doctor and/or clinic individually how they practice. Most are very strict when it comes to narcotic medications and the guidelines and rules you must follow. It doesn't matter if the doctor is pain management or another specialist there seems to be problems with these urine test.
The doctors needs to realize and understand these test are not infallible.
The doctors needs to realize and understand these test are not infallible.
WOW! I am so glad that I am not going to a Pain Management clinic, it sounds like they really keep you on a tight leash when it comes to getting meds and stuff!! I see a Neurologist at a regular , what would you call it, an outpatient clinic, where there are lots of different kinds of doctors. Anyway, I do remember having to sign some sort of contract when I first started going there almost 3-4 years ago, I think it just said that I wasn't supposed to get any narcotics from anyone but him. there have been times that I didn't count right and called in for a refill early, and I never had a problem. Maybe you should try getting a Neorologist that's not at a pain clinic, ya know?
Just reading about the people that go to a PMC, I am in shock! I have never been treated this way whenever I had a doctor that was giving me narcotics.
Just reading about the people that go to a PMC, I am in shock! I have never been treated this way whenever I had a doctor that was giving me narcotics.
These are some of the drugs known to cause a false negative.
The reactivity of 13 quinolones (levofloxacin, ofloxacin, pefloxacin, enoxacin, moxifloxacin, gatifloxacin, trovafloxacin, sparfloxacin, lomefloxacin, ciprofloxacin, clinafloxacin, norfloxacin, and nalidixic acid) was tested in 5 commercial opiate screening assays from September 1998 to March 1999. In 6 healthy volunteers, we confirmed the cross-reactivity of levofloxacin or ofloxacin with these opiate screening assays. be positive, therefore some will and have failed these test.
Also there is more information on this in one of my journal entries which can be found here...
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/97621?personal_page_id=1060
I am so sorry this happened to you. it is getting to become common here as new members ask the same question you have, why?
I would suggest trying to find a new doctor and be honest and tell them what happened and that you will gladly take test on a regular basis to prove your taking your medications as prescibed. Do not give up, there are doctors that realize these test are not accurate.
Let us know if we can help and we are here for you:)
The reactivity of 13 quinolones (levofloxacin, ofloxacin, pefloxacin, enoxacin, moxifloxacin, gatifloxacin, trovafloxacin, sparfloxacin, lomefloxacin, ciprofloxacin, clinafloxacin, norfloxacin, and nalidixic acid) was tested in 5 commercial opiate screening assays from September 1998 to March 1999. In 6 healthy volunteers, we confirmed the cross-reactivity of levofloxacin or ofloxacin with these opiate screening assays. be positive, therefore some will and have failed these test.
Also there is more information on this in one of my journal entries which can be found here...
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/97621?personal_page_id=1060
I am so sorry this happened to you. it is getting to become common here as new members ask the same question you have, why?
I would suggest trying to find a new doctor and be honest and tell them what happened and that you will gladly take test on a regular basis to prove your taking your medications as prescibed. Do not give up, there are doctors that realize these test are not accurate.
Let us know if we can help and we are here for you:)
tying to post my story not good with computer lol anyway i tested negative for pain med that should have been in my system i dont get it now my pcp does not believe me sent me a cert letter refusing any more meds suggested i 30 day to find a new doc on mass health new doc with this ya right , pending ssi disability case i think doc sent negative results to them now what ssress has been trigerng my eplipsey anxiety soon to be out of meds i do have thyroid cond could this be why also took antibiotic week before test yes the same doc could this be if so what are my rights if any lab has been nice they cant treat me or take all this away from my recored
Hi guys,
sorry, with the holidays and my getting the "rebuttal" together and faxed out to his office. I have been a bit busy the past couple of days.
Yes, I did state that my doctor is an NP and ARNP, I am not sure IF he has since graduated to a PM doctor all together but I do think that he did. It is New Hampsire. My boys and I lived there for 6 years, but after my guy walked out on us (after more than a decade together), I couldn't make it on disability and child support, although I tried my hardest. After a long and difficult attempt to keep them up there where the schools are much better (as well as with thier friends) we came back home to my parents in Massachusetts. So, My oldest son has been driving me back and forth to his office every single month because I am no longer able to drive that far, as well as I am not supposed to on those medications. Yet another term to the contract that I adhered to all the time.
Since he has chosen not to bother to call me back, despite the discreptancies and errors discovered by myself AND the lab (who also contacted his office on my behalf regarding the errors) I can only assume that he is ignoring me. I am glad that I got the "letter of rebuttal" off to him via fax. It had all the errors, facts, etc and they are required to include that in my file, which would be forwarded or faxed to the new PM doctors office.
I did not initial the specimen cup. NOR was it collected in front of me. I now know better. I am more educated in that area and that is a huge mistake that will NEVER happen to me again!!
The gentleman at the labs has been even more helpful. He is sending me a copy of the requisition form and the results. This way here I can see exactly what was and was not listed under "daily meds". I have been contacted by a nurse (not associated with him)who informed me that he should have been aware that benadryl would cause a false negative.
I can only hope that new years eve will be a good one.
and I continue to pray that I will get the medical care than I need. It's scary.... to think the number of years that I have been on this medicine. I don't want to end up 100% bedridden due to the pain again!! They have said that "all they can do is keep me comfortable" and "I will never be pain free even with my meds" ..but if I am still in pain ON my meds I don't even want to imagine how much pain I will be in without them!! I swore I would never let my kids see me like that again. Where I just laid there crying. Not able to walk or get up to make them dinner, etc.. Let alone be able to make it to the food store to use a cart to buy groceries. I certainly hope it doesn't come to that!
Thank you all so much for your support!!
sorry, with the holidays and my getting the "rebuttal" together and faxed out to his office. I have been a bit busy the past couple of days.
Yes, I did state that my doctor is an NP and ARNP, I am not sure IF he has since graduated to a PM doctor all together but I do think that he did. It is New Hampsire. My boys and I lived there for 6 years, but after my guy walked out on us (after more than a decade together), I couldn't make it on disability and child support, although I tried my hardest. After a long and difficult attempt to keep them up there where the schools are much better (as well as with thier friends) we came back home to my parents in Massachusetts. So, My oldest son has been driving me back and forth to his office every single month because I am no longer able to drive that far, as well as I am not supposed to on those medications. Yet another term to the contract that I adhered to all the time.
Since he has chosen not to bother to call me back, despite the discreptancies and errors discovered by myself AND the lab (who also contacted his office on my behalf regarding the errors) I can only assume that he is ignoring me. I am glad that I got the "letter of rebuttal" off to him via fax. It had all the errors, facts, etc and they are required to include that in my file, which would be forwarded or faxed to the new PM doctors office.
I did not initial the specimen cup. NOR was it collected in front of me. I now know better. I am more educated in that area and that is a huge mistake that will NEVER happen to me again!!
The gentleman at the labs has been even more helpful. He is sending me a copy of the requisition form and the results. This way here I can see exactly what was and was not listed under "daily meds". I have been contacted by a nurse (not associated with him)who informed me that he should have been aware that benadryl would cause a false negative.
I can only hope that new years eve will be a good one.
and I continue to pray that I will get the medical care than I need. It's scary.... to think the number of years that I have been on this medicine. I don't want to end up 100% bedridden due to the pain again!! They have said that "all they can do is keep me comfortable" and "I will never be pain free even with my meds" ..but if I am still in pain ON my meds I don't even want to imagine how much pain I will be in without them!! I swore I would never let my kids see me like that again. Where I just laid there crying. Not able to walk or get up to make them dinner, etc.. Let alone be able to make it to the food store to use a cart to buy groceries. I certainly hope it doesn't come to that!
Thank you all so much for your support!!
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