Has anyone had problems with their child’s medicine not showing up in urine test?

[MommyOfThree_]

Long post but I’m confused and am just trying to see if this has happened to anyone else too! My 8 year old has been taking Focalin XR since Kindergarten and until this last month we have never had a problem with it showing up on his urine tests. He is now on a 20mg dose and I give it to him every day that he has school, but they have tested him three times this last month and each time it has shown up that it’s not in his system. The first time I think it was on a Monday so I was like maybe it’s because I didn’t give it to him this weekend no big deal. Then he failed again the second time and I was like well ok then maybe he hasn’t been actually taking it when I give it to him. I have always watched him put it in his mouth and take a drink, but have never actually checked his mouth after to see if it’s gone. I asked him if he had actually been taking it when I gave it to him and he said he has and I believe him because his grades haven’t went down nor has his teachers sent a note home about him misbehaving and I’ve never had a problem with him taking it before. But I started checking the second time he failed just to make sure he wasn’t hiding it in his cheek or under his tongue and spitting it out when he went to the bathroom or outside to get in the car to go to school. I watched him put it in his mouth take a drink and swallow it then checked his cheeks under his tongue the whole nine yards and it STILL didn’t show up in his system the third time?!? I KNOW he is taking it, but it still isn’t showing up? Has this happened to anyone else’s kid or to them? I’m confused about why it wouldn’t be showing up when he has been taking it the same way he has for 4 years?

[Onthemove1971]

Welcome to the group. I think the best thing to do in this situation is to ask the Pharmacist how long the drug you are testing for will be staying in his system. I have heard that the medications are fast acting (unless you take and extended release) so that means they do not stay in the body long. So it would depend on when you take the medication and when you test. I would also make sure you are seeing him take the test.

It sounds like you are testing at home?

Here is what I know about ADHD medication, when it works it works... When it doesn't work grades, behavior, attitude and peer relationships all suffer. I have also learned that the behavior is predictable on medication and off medication very unpredictable.

As far as trust and taking medication, we went through a period of time where we thought he took it ( I would lay it on the table) and he didn't. Once I discovered this, I take the medication out and hand it to him and watch him take it and drink something. Now that he understands why he needs it and how much it benefits him there is no question about if he takes his medication or not.

I hope this helps.

[MommyOfThree_ in reply to Onthemove1971]

No, where I live if you are on medication like Focalin/Adderall/Ritalin then they test your urine at the doctors office to see if it is in your system, and if it isn’t then they take you off of that medication. They check it to be sure that the patient is taking it like they are supposed to be and not selling it or with someone young like my son is the parents aren’t taking it or selling it instead of giving it to them. Every 3 months he has an appointment to be sure the medication is still working and isn’t giving him any negative side effects. They only test him for it at these 3 month appointments. We have just never had this problem before until this last month. I have set up an appointment with his doctor to discuss everything because even she said that it’s odd for him to fail especially 3 times when in 4 years he has never failed once. Maybe it just isn’t staying in his system long enough now? I’m really not sure. I was just wanting to see if anyone else has had this problem before.

[Elijah1]

The typical drug screen does not test for Focalin, just amphetamines. Check to make sure the urine test is set up to do it. If not, consider a blood test, which will detect it if done in the hours after taking it in the morning.

A question - why is he being tested? Is this something the doctor typically does with patients on stimulant medication?

[BlueysMom in reply to Elijah1]

I was wondering the same thing. My son's been on medication for 3 years as well, and we've never tested for it.

[MommyOfThree_ in reply to Elijah1]

Where I live he has an appointment every 3 months to follow up on the medication to see if it’s still working and to make sure he’s not having any negative side effects with it. They also check his urine during these visits to make sure it is in his system. Where I live if they check your urine for your medication and it isn’t in your system they take you off that medication. They do this to be sure the patient is taking the medication and not selling it or for young people like my son that the parents might take it or sell it. They only test him every 3 months at these follow up appointments.

[Onthemove1971 in reply to Elijah1]

I wonder if a hair test could detect it, not sure... Good luck