Drug screening suboxone

[Hopeful4747]

Hello, I saw your post for Quest Diagnostics drug and alcohol test. My insurance required a drug and alcohol screening. I don't drink or do any drugs. However, I have been whining myself down from suboxone because it's just so expensive. It looks to me like buphenephrine isn't tested for but I'm petrified of testing "dirty" since I don't have a recent prescription I've been stretching out what I had. I'm scared to discontinue it because it really helps with my pain, depression, anxiety and over all well being. Do I need to worry about the insurance testing for this?

[Hopeful4747]

Thanks so much for your help. My husband says that suboxone or buprenorphine is a specialized test that cost more and firmly believes it's not tested for unless specified. After looking at the quest diagnostic site (which is where I am going) I became more paranoid because it talks about blood test with and without confirmation urine. My script just says urine drug and alcohol screening and I think the blood work is just for my viral load, AFP, CBC W/Diff, CMP (chem 14), PT/PTT. I don't really know what all of this is but the bottom line is I have to get treatment and I don't want to risk being denied. I need to just talk to my doctor. First to see if I can take it will in treatment. If not then I know I have to ask her what if any meds she would recommend I replaced it with because I have a two year old and I'm scared to death that I won't be able to take the treatment because when I stop the suboxone I become very irritable, tired, anxious and plain lethargic. It's not like it's a street drug I'm getting high on and I'm not even taking it for opioid dependence. I just wish it wasn't posted for heroin addicts when it really is a miracle anti-depressant and gives me the energy and pain relief to live a normal life. My husband and I think honesty is the best policy. Maybe if they don't like suboxone she can recommend something else. She said I'd be taking Vieira Pak? I read post from people cured by Harvoni that said they feel fantastic now. No more fatigue or feeling like your dragging through sand or a ton of bricks weighing you down. This is my goal! Has the treatment helped you guys in that way?

[hrsepwrguy]

I did some reading and suboxone will not show up on a regular 10 or 12 panel drug screen, it takes a specific test that the ins co will have to specify to give, so I guess the question of the day is if your ins co has that test included as part of the drug screen.

I hope it all works out for you

Have a great day

[jules2551]

Ops...forget the website www.questdiagnostics.com and then search comprehensive drug and alcohol testing.  It will give you class of drugs you will be tested for.

Good luck

[jules2551]

I had the Comprehensive Drug and Alcohol Test panels which screens for numerous illicit drugs.  I had to give blood and urine.  They will ask you what medications you are on also.  Si I agree with Hrsepwrguy and go back to your Dr to get a prescription for the Suboxone.  I also checked about the drug interactions between Suboxone and Harvoni and they were minor.  So you need to talk to your Dr.  Forget about the stigma this is about your health and comfort.  We all have been through the stigma and I think it will make us all stronger in the long run.

Have a great day!

Jules

[Hopeful4747]

Thank you all for your insight. I didn't go back to the doctor because I can't stand the stigma of this medication but after trying to quit taking it I don't know if I can handle the pain, depression and anxiety that comes flooding back when off of it. I just hate to postpone treatment any longer. My doctor doesn't think my symptoms ( foggy brain, fatigue like a tone of bricks is constantly weighing me down, sever debilitating abdominal pain etc ) are from hep c but I've had every test in the world and they cannot find anything else wrong.

[hrsepwrguy]

It should say pre-approval drug screen not pretreatment drug screen

[hrsepwrguy]

That's not the reason for the pretreatment drug screen, if you fail it, the insurance company will use that as a reason not to pay for the meds.

@Hopeful, I really don't know if they test for suboxone, if you could get your prescription refilled it would not be an issue

[keepingOnkeepingOn]

There is a reason for the test. The meds may not work for those on other kinds of medicine and they could deny you because of it. That's the worst it could get. You could ask your doc if it is ok to take suboxone with the new meds since it is a prescription and not a street drug. If suboxone is not compatible with the new meds then your doc can prescribe you with something else.