Pre-authorization and drug test for prescriptions?

[anthony1979]

i am going to two different pscyhs. one for suboxone and one for xanax/valium. they dont know about each other. i have legitimate problems for both.  my pre auth. ran out recently. in order to get a new one(per united healthcare) . to get a new pre auth. they gave me 15 days worth of subs and my doc has to order me a drug test. i dont know whats going on with anything. never dealt or heard of anything like this. i am switching to total care july 1st. does that matter? has anyone heard of anything like this and do u have any idea what will happen? the only thing in my system is what im prescribed.

[StressedStudent80]

I just recently had to submit to a drug test for the first time ever and I've been on suboxone for about a year and a half. The only reason I was tested this time was because I wanted my insurance company to pay and they required a pre-authorization first. I didn't ask at the time but since then, I've been curious as to what exactly they tested for. Everything went well and I got the authorization less than a week later. The same doctor also prescribes me adderal for my ADD and Klonopin for anxiety. That may be a bit of overkill too but for the first time, it seems as though ALL of my issues have finally been addressed completely. My main point is, even with all of those prescription drugs in my system, I still got the prior authorization I needed for suboxone.

[nursegirl6572]

Well, it sounds a bit confusing, but hopefully it will work out for you.  You said you were on TWO benzos?  What else do you take?  Being on more than one may be a bit of overkill.

I'm surprised the SUB doc doesn't regularly drug test you.  Usually, they will require a drug test at every visit, which is the standard tox screen (opiates, benzos, coke, etc), and then a spcial dipstick test for the Subs, to make sure you're taking it.  You must have a pretty luberal sub doctor.  Maybe he will not react too badly about the Valium, although some sub docs, if they find out a patient is using benzos of any sort (even legit), they will drop them, because of the strong contraindication.

Let us know how this turns out for you!  Hope it works out...and congrats on all the clean time!  Good for you!

[anthony1979]

i have never taken a drug test for my my doc. when i went to the pharmacy my subs wouldnt go through b/c my pre auth expired. i took the drug test yesterday for the ins comp. they are the ones who wanted me to take the test. i tal.ked to the nurse at the place i took the test and explained the situation, the drug test i took did not include subs. it was everyhing else that was tested. yes, i am going to have to show my sub doc my script of valium. its only 5mg 4x day. if i dont take it i end up having panic attacks. what it seems like is that the ins comp. wants to see if i am taking opiates. which i am not and havent since 08. idk?

[nursegirl6572]

Well, I'm sorry to say, but you've gotten yourself into a heck of a pickle here.  I'm sure you're aware of the contraindication of subs and benzos being presxribed together?  They are rarely ever Rx'd together due to a risk of respiratory depression and resp arrest.  A sub doctor will not prescribe it because of that, and a sub doctor is specially trained and certified to be able to prescribe sub, not just any doc can, so I doubt that a sub doc would take that risk.  Your psych doc who Rx'es the benzos (why two different ones btw?) is most likely not permitted to prescribe subs.

See, when you are deceitful with doctors about medications, especially controlled substances, it's never good.  Add to that your history of addiction, and red flags are popping up everywhere.  Probably your best bet is to come clean with both docs, let them know what's going on.  You're probably going to have to taper off the sub before a doctor will continue prescribing a benzo.  Definitely not 2 different benzos...I can almost promise that!

You seem surprised about the drug test?  Have you never been required to do a tox screen for your sub Rx?  That's very common..usually at every visit for a lot of sub docs.  You are going to have to do a urine screen for opiates, cocaine, marijuana, meth, benzos, etc...and also probably a second, special dipstick test to assure there is also sub in your system.  I wouldn't recommend trying to cheat the test either, because then, you would end up not only without all of your meds, but also in jail as well.  It's unlikely, but you could actually be charged with obtaining a controlled substance by way of fraud or misrepresentation for what you're doing.  It's not something to take lightly.

I really wish I had better advice for you, but you've really put yourself in a bad situation, and hopefully honesty will help you to resolve it.  You've placed yourself at risk for losing all of the meds, which would be a massive nightmare, benzo AND sub w/d together?  That wouldn't be pretty.

Best of luck to you, I hope the doctors work with you to find a reasonable solution after you tell them the truth. Please let us know the outcome.