Have any of you been asked by your physician to get a urine sample to test for drug levels? I suppose the test is to check if I am taking the meds as prescribed. Feels invasive.
ADHD Medication Urine Test: Have any of... - CHADD's Adult ADH...
ADHD Medication Urine Test
Written by
Curious1411
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
42 Replies
•
Drug screens are common with stimulants. Doctors test to be sure you are taking your prescribed medication. They also check to be sure you are not taking any drugs you are not prescribed and no illegal substances
In this case she wants to make sure I am taking medications as prescribed.
Doctors also tests for other drugs present. Some just don't tell their patients that part The same thing is done with patients that take opiates. If you want to be sure what you are and are not being tested for. You need to get a copy of your drug screen results. You can do that by requesting a copy of your medical records. Drug screens are done on adults and children.
I am not at all concerned about other drugs being tested. I have an online lab results portal anyway. My doctor specified it’s being done because “as a controlled substance these drugs can be abused.” I guess she’s covering her assets. Lol.
I am just not quite sure what a urine test reveals exactly. How much medication in my system over 2-3 days? Can it accumulate? What does “going over the required dose look like? My prescription is very small.
Urine tests are not as exact as hair follicle tests. As long as you do not take anything you should not and take your ADHD medication as prescribed. You should be fine. There are cases where patients test positive for drugs that have not taken. Also they can test negative for drugs they have taken. The cost varies greatly. Some insurance will pay for drug screens and some will not
I am not in the US so it’s covered. My doctor sent the requisition form for me to print out. She didn’t specify a time limit, but I have read up on some places being strict, and setting 7 days as the deadline.
Can they tell the difference between quick release and extended release?
No
If they do a more comprehensive test, it does show the exact amount of whatever drug is in the body instead of just positive/negative. Which can roughly correlate to the amount of medication that is being taken. I say roughly because everyone's metabolism varies and that affects the amount of a drug in the body. So if you're taking more than prescribed within a few days prior to the test, it can definitely show on the results
I am not sure it is a comprehensive test. I thought urine tests are less sensitive than blood or hair.
Urine tests are less sensitive than other tox screens.
So how can they tell the exact amount? Incidentally, I am on 18 mg of Concerta and 10 mg Ritalin. These are very low doses for an adult who has been taking them for 3 years.
I was told by my psychiatrist that they're mainly testing to ensure it's in your system, period. Too many people will get a prescription and then sell them.
They can't tell exactly how much you're taking due to differences in everyone's metabolism etc. But if they send it to a lab to be analyzed beyond just a simple positive or negative result from a basic instant result urine test in a cup, they can see how many ng/ml (nanograms per milliliter) of a substance is in your body and roughly corellate that to how much you've taken recently.
I was on Ritalin I'd say 9 yrs ago, like maybe 2 10mg a day, and my Dr had me take a drug test. Fasting and first thing in the morning and it showed no Ritalin in my urine so he just said I'm selling it and that was it, lol. I eventually got onto Adderall but honestly what do you even do? I was taking my meds I just think my body processed it so fast that it didn't show up, idk.
I know. Everyone processes it differently. That’s another reason why I think it’s pointless.
It does feel invasive. A urine test will verify that the person prescribed the medicine is taking it and not selling it. I assume that this prevents a person from getting a script of medication and selling each pill for $5 to $25 to another person.
My medication is also as needed. It’s optional whether I take them every day or not. I don’t take it every day. You can’t get much for these pills. The amount is too small.
Maybe a red flag because I have not been getting regular blood work for my medical condition, and it tests my creatinine and GFR (liver). I haven’t been going because of both lack of motivation and also I have a bicep tendon tear in my right arm (same arm as I get blood work because in my left arm the veins can’t be found).
You can ask the person drawing your blood if they will use a Butterfly in your hand. They often have problems finding my veins in my arms. So I ask ahead of time if they will use a Butterfly. The needle is a little smaller and there are two tabs, like butterfly wings that make it easier to insert. Some techs will do it and some will not. I am in the US. Not sure about other countries.
Does it really sell for that amount of money? It seems you would have to be aware of an inner drug circle. A homeless person would rather have food or cigarettes. In many cases, it’s food. They don’t have the money to pay for drugs.
Unfortunately, yes - it does sell for that much. I had a friend who I found out was purchasing them from someone else because the doctor refused to prescribe her stimulants (he put her on the non-stimulant meds and she swore they didn't work). It upset me greatly that she was literally breaking a federal law just to get stimulants instead of changing psychiatrists. It's hard for me to understand because I actually NEED my meds, so the idea of selling them is ridiculous to me - but I was told by this same friend (who seemed to know far too much about how to game the system for my comfort) that there are those who actually fake the symptoms of ADHD just to get the prescription to sell. I say I "had" a friend because after she tried to "borrow" meds from me on more than one occasion (which I'm not about to do), I realized that there was a real problem going on - and she refused to talk about it. My psychiatrist is still only seeing patients online, so I've never had to do a urine test - but I had to sign something that said I would be willing to take the test if requested. It's my understanding that it's standard practice when stimulants or opioids are prescribed on a regular basis.
Wow, same here! I need my medication. TBH, they are under prescribed. I have been meaning to ask her to increase my Concerta dose to 27 mg because the effects of 18 mg wears off too quickly. I am also on 10 mg of Ritalin for the afternoon.
The problem also is my pharmacist has been habitually late with filling prescriptions. Both medications are meant to be prescribed together but each time the pharmacist was late it widened the gap and so yes one would run out before the other and then I would be inclined to take more than prescribed.
For an adult like me I know it is more common for the dose of Concerta to be increased as high as 72 mg per day. Once the effects of that dose wears off, it’s time to switch or even try another approach when dealing with ADHD symptoms.
Too bad for those so called friends of yours. Yes, switching psychiatrists would be the thing to do.
I hate it when people fake ADHD. It’s such a painful condition with horrible lifelong consequences. Some people outgrow it, but there is a sizeable population in each country that doesn’t.
I couldn't agree more - to all of that! My pharmacist started to do the same thing and it was really messing with my doses. Wound up having to completely switch pharmacies and specifically spoke to the pharmacist about what had happened. He helped me get it back on the schedule it was SUPPOSED to be on. I genuinely hope your doctor listens to you and increases your dose. My Adderall - although extended release - still wears off by the afternoon. I work full-time and have started a virtual assistant business (I support people with ADHD because it's a passion of mine after going DECADES being misdiagnosed), so I can't lose all motivation by mid-afternoon. She gave me an instant release dose to get through the remainder of the day - like you. I've never tried Concerta, but I was listening to the book Take Charge of Adult ADHD by Dr. Russell A. Barkley, and he was going through the meds and how long they last. I realized how fortunate I am to be on the extended release, because some of them actuall wear off in like 4 hours. I don't remember how long Concerta lasts though. I hope you get the actual help you need!!!
Heck, I never even thought of that as a possibility. It's a valid tool though (checking to make sure you are taking medication). If you have stopped regular bloodwork needed for your medical condition, then it sounds like they have a valid reason for wanting to check.
My wife has Celiac and therefore needs to stay gluten free. It's literally painful for her to eat gluten, so she has every good reason to follow that dietary restriction. Yet when she was seeing a Dr for anemia, they would always blame her condition on her Celiac and that she was really eating gluten. Every appt they would draw blood "just to check", and every time it would come back negative for any trace of gluten in her system. Yet every time they were surprised, despite her repeatedly telling them she wasn't eating gluten.
I think some Dr just are used to patients lying, or "forgetting" things, so they become a bit cynical by nature.
Regular blood work for a medical condition does not include a tox screen.
Yes, my blood work was recommended by my rheumatologist.
I wasn't trying to imply there was a tox screen as part of it. However, not knowing the details of the medical condition or the blood work and not being a Dr, I can only guess. The lack of recent blood work could be a flag of concern. That's all.
yes yearly. people abuse the med and people get scripts when they are not adhd plus it monitors if you are using mental health dxs are high risk to sud issues
son had been on adderal for 9 years and has never been asked to do a blood or urine test.
My husband has been on Ritalin for 3 years and they never asked him. In his case it is for another medical condition.
Yeah, I am wondering if I created a red flag in some way.
Maybe, since she was very close to retiring, she was trying to tie up some loose ends of each patient. Maybe she meant to ask me to do a drug screen before, but forgot.
I haven’t been to a lab for my medical condition in a while. This has been a pattern of mine of years. I hate getting blood work done, and even more so now because of my bicep tendon tear.
it is standard practice in WA state to do urine test when one is treated with stimulants. Standard. You sign a contract saying you agree.
Nothing like that here.
My Dr. Makes me get the drug test. She wants it monthly along with a monthly appointment, which I’ve negotiated down to every other month. It’s not just to see if you’re taking it…sometimes I test positive and sometimes negative since I don’t take it everyday. It’s all a bunch of bull…they treat people who need it like criminals. For me its super expensive and frustrating…it costs $107 for the appointment, then $90 or more for the drug test plus the rx cost.
That sounds horrible! I am in Canada so everything is covered except for the Rx, which is paid for through my husband’s private insurance.
Yes, I don’t like how they treat people like criminals.
Yeah that would be a NOPE for me, I wouldn't do it and find a new provider or treatment.. Never had that come up for me. I have had drug tests for employment etc. that required some 'splaining as to why I was positive for stimulants.... That being said even there it didn't pop every time. I do get that illegal sales of pills are rampant (especially in colleges) but still if you don't trust me to take them and sign that I'm taking them how much proof is enough?
The person who prescribed them is my family doctor. I will still do the test, although not terribly happy about it. Not doing the test may appear as if I have something to hide.
I've just been asked by a new psychiatrist to do a urine test. First time I've ever had this asked of me. I find it thoroughly insulting and invasive. It didn't help that he spent more time talking about that "policy" than taking my history.
I'm probably going to go to a clinic that treats me with more respect. It just seems to me that the only clinial situation where urine tests are really called for is drug addiction - and even then, i imagine it would help patients most if they want to do it as an accountability measure.
I'm tired of being treated with suspicion by pharmacists and doctors because I need to take a stimulant medication to function.
My doctor denied me a urine test for a UTI infection. I had blood in my urine. She said “Well if it gets any worse, you can always go to the emergency!” Go figure. She was reluctant because I have had a urine test a year previous and was treated with anti-biotics. Prednisone increases risk of infection (for my PMR).
No problem though in asking for a urine test for stimulants.
I still haven’t gone.
I will have to go soon though or they reserve the right to refuse to refill my prescription.
Yes I took the drug test and the doctor didn't see the adderall in my system, but did find thc. The doctor said because they couldn't monitor the adderall he would discontinue the adderall. I stopped self-medicating , I still feel better, but I'd rather continue taking my adderall and slowly decreasing the dosage until I'm no longer taking it, but still feel great! I've had my doctor for years and I value his judgement.
I used to work in a suboxone clinic where we urine screened weekly. We had rapid urine cups which screened for the presence & absence of Subox & multiple other drugs immediately. We also sent out urine screens to detect for other drugs as well as concentration levels of any drug. Since fentanyl is cut with so many different substances we would get results of dry bleach concentration levels. I say all of this to say that it truly depends on which test your Dr orders. Generally, if they send it out they are looking for concentration levels to ensure you are taking it as prescribed.
Do those concentration levels mean over 3 days or longer?
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
ADHD Medication update
Hi All,
Just wanted to provide an update. I initially tried Vyvanse and noticed zombification,...
ADHD medication alternatives?
Hi! Tried meds when I was younger and again as a young adult. I figured more research had been...
IQ test for ADHD diagnosis
I recently emailed a psychiatric hospital to ask about the procedure for adhd diagnosis as well as...
ADHD medication effects on ageing
ADHD and the ageing effect. How bad does the meds effect the ageing process? Anyone with any...
ADHD diagnosis and medication worries
Hi there, I'm a 24yo female with undiagnosed but suspected ADHD. Throughout my childhood I've had...
Medication for Inattentive ADHD and depression 
ADHD and pain medication
Computer test results not in line with ADHD - what now?
ADHD Weekly -- Can a Gene Test Help Pick the Right Meds?
ADHD testing 
