pain meds & new DEA laws

[Going2WinN2010]

went to my doctors 1/6/11 to pick up my pain med Perc 10/325 script and before they would hand me my script I was handed a cup to test my urine as per the "new DEA Laws" in Fla. I was just there less than 30 days to have my every 2 month  face to face appt  and didnt have to do so? They would only say it's the New law, had me check off on a DEA form like paper what meds I am prescribed, then sign and initial ...as usual my doctors office staff are so very rude so i did as "TOLD" do anyone know What are they testing me for? I have heard several different stories?
I heard THC, Cocaine, Heroine, basic illegal stuff which I do not do so not worried  then I heard " you're being testing to make sure what you're being prescribed is whats in your system if you test negative then your  selling them?
What the Heck? Any of my med help buddies on here have any new info

Thanks in advance
Kim in Florida the ccccccold state right now Brrrrrrrrrrr

[atonicat]

That's actually pretty standard at most PM practices. On my first visit to my PM I had to sign a contract and take a urine screen. They test for illegal drugs and also your prescribed drug. If they find illegal drugs or they don't find your prescribed drug, than they can drop you as a patient.

[peekawho]

Be sure your prescribed drug is in your system, too.  Take one even if you don't need it, a couple hours before your appt.  

It annoys me, as sometimes I'm having a couple of good days, and wouldn't ordinarily take the med that day.  But I'm terrified not to take it before the appt, just in case they test me.  

[Going2WinN2010]

ARE You serious?? I mean i can see checking for THC and other illegal substances but if I dont have ENOUGH of my own meds?? I mean I GET the whole epidemic-I DO-But who the hell if footin the bill cuz I do not have health coverage at this moment I bust my A$$ to set aside cash for my expensive meds which for 120 a month costs me $155.00 ...so now every time I get my meds I have to pee in a cup now? On my last appointment with my PCP doctor I asked her to prescribe methodone or Suboxone due to 1) the cost 2) being scared with all the nut jobs that are robbing homes looking for meds 3)The new laws that will make it impossible due to no insurance. She said No, because of my RA and the whole Quality of life BS...then next thing i know I am now pee pee-ing in cups every visit...what ever ...thanks for the info...I don't smoke weed, or do any of the illegal "stuff' im 44 now and those days have been long gone...so no worries here....

Thanks to you too "atonicat"

[namnam46]

Hi Kim,

Yes, welcome to the "World of Pain Medicine"!!  I've been doing this with my PM Doctor from day one.  I live in AZ.  I'm VERY surprised that Florida is JUST now doing this.  I'd just assumed that the regular PM Doctors had ALWAYS been doing it in Florida.  I didn't realize that they JUST started it.  

The first day I went to mine, I had to sign a pain contract that stated that I would be subject to periodic urine OR blood tests. Now mine DOESN'T automatically kick you out, they put you on a VERY CLOSE watch for 6 months FIRST and THEN if you do something wrong OR fail another test they will kick you out.  ALSO, MANY pain contracts will out and out tell you that they DON'T have to give you ANY meds when they kick you out, while OTHERS will tell you that they will furnish you with anywhere from 1 week to 1 month worth of meds.  It ALL depends on what your contract says!! It takes about one to 2 weeks for them to get the results of your urine test back.

What atonicat and peek said is VERY true, they are looking to be SURE that you have the prescribed meds IN your system as WELL as you don't have something MORE in your system.  AS long as you follow your Doctor's instructions "to the letter" you should be fine.  ALSO, as peek said just be sure that you take your meds a couple of hours before you go,  EVEN if your pain levels are low and you DON'T feel that you need them at that time.  JUST in case they should give you a urine screen that day.  

Does your Doctor give you the urine test EVERY time as some do OR is it RANDOMLY as mine is?

You should do fine as I KNOW that you follow your Doctor's orders!!  :)

Keep us updated...............Sherry  :}

[KittyKat23_78]

I get tested randomly at my PM's office too. It's part of the drill here in Oregon. They are checking to make sure that I am not taking anything I'm not supposed to and that I have the prescribed rx in my system. I always have to make sure that I don't "run out" early so that it's in my system if I have to pee. It's annoying, but I understand why they have to do it. Unfotunately, we have to pay the price for those that obtain scrips and sell them on the street...sad world we live in,

[SandyJ250]

I am new to this posting.  I have not seen the PM doc yet.  I live in TN.  My daughter has been seeing one for a couple of years.  She gets tested everytime she sees him to make sure she has her prescribed meds in her system.  I am really concerned about going to a PM.  My PCP was prescribing my Oxycodone (liquid) for pain from Chronic pancreatitis and post gastric bypass surgery complications.  This is the only thing I can take for pain, due to serious reactions to other pain meds & complicated insides.  I am concerned he is going to take me off of my med and try to put me on something else.  My surgeon & GI doctor were the ones that started me on the Oxy.  They said it is the best for organ pain.  I understand the concern but I have been having trouble finding my med due to DEA regulations and not letting the companies produce anymore until Jan. 12th. So, This is what I have to look forward to?

[namnam46]

Hi Sandy,

I just moved a year and a half ago to AZ form TN.  If you are concerned with being removed from the liquid Oxycodone then I would suggest that you have BOTH your surgeon and GI Doctors get in contact with your NEW PM Doctor and explain it to him as how it could REALLY cause SEVERE problems with your condition!!  

It's my understanding that the PM Doctor's in TN are REALLY  "toeing the line" in TN also because so many patients are going to Florida and getting meds from the "Pill Mills" and bringing them back up and selling them in TN and KY.  That's probably why your Daughter is having to be drug tested EACH time she goes in.  :{  

As long as you will follow his instructions you will be FINE!!  Unfortunately, this IS what you have to look forward too.  HOWEVER, you should be VERY thankful that you HAVE a PM Doctor as MANY have LOST their PM Doctor's because they DIDN'T follow the Doctor's directions.  

Please let us know how you do AND how you like your New PM Doctor!!  :)

Best of Luck..........Sherry

[HessyKat]

Not only are they checking to see if its in you system they also are now checking to see how much. I also am in the same situation. I just posted a question too about this. I just started and I am having trouble taking the stronger med. I dont know what to do. He wants me to take three a day and one just floored me.

[Agggony]

They test me in WI every time I go to the Dr, for my med check, They look for all street drugs and Higher / Lower Levels of what you are on. used to be that they could Just tell if you had the drug in your blood stream, But thanks to a new test actually developed and patented by 2 Dr.s at My Pain Clinic in Minaqua WI. They can tell if your are taking the prescribed amount, More or Less, They can even check your emzimes to see if you just took some that day to pass the test. This way they know if you are Exceeding the prescribed dose or Not taking all your pills which could mean you are selling the extras or hording them?, Sneaky bastards , For 5 years my tests were at "expected levels" Then the 1st appointment at this new clinic My appointment was on the day that I returned from a 2 week trip and I left One of my meds at home so when it did not show up in my test, I was questioned and told That was my One pass, any more and I would be cut off, Black balled. That is the same as killing me because ,Not only can I NOT NOT live with this pain, I WILL off myself before suffering through the withdrawals of the High dose they have me on

[Agggony]

I seen your post about taking pain meds before going to the Dr. to make sure it,s in your test, Well they have a new test that tells them if you did just that! You have to take the meds for NO LESS then 3 days prior to the UA drug test so that the drug is absorbed into the Fat Cell emzimes. They can test if you are taking the prescribed amount as well! aka> @ expected Levels

[flower12345]

Hi Everyone. My PM does totally random drug tests--GC/MS so they can tell what your levels are.

I NEVER know when I'm getting one. I may not get one for a year, and then I may get one three appts. in a row. So, it's truly random.

Sometimes I wish that someone could feel my back pain just for five minutes, so they could understand the agony that I deal with on a daily basis.

Breaks my heart that there are so many with pain that are under treated. It's so very important to have a good relationship with your PM doctor. I went through years of treatment with a doctor who didn't treat me well at all. Long story.

Anyway, yes you must make sure you take your meds. as prescribed, because even if you do just that, you can still have a negative drug screen because of other meds. or your metabolism.

[Going2WinN2010]

Thank you all for your comments and let me also say how truly shocked I am that you all have had to & will continue to undergo such treatment just because of the "ones that sell the very medication we need"?? Like I said in my original post "I get the epidemic I DO" Right now I have a good friend who takes (as prescribed by her doctor) WAY too much...and her husband is NOW addicted due to stealing them from her...she is on 80 mg Oxicontins 150 a  month PLUS 15 mg Roxicodones 180 a month...her husband started getting 120 of the 30 mg Roxicodones so add that all up and that's lethal??!!! It so very bad I have  had to tell her I no longer could be in the home or around her/ husband due to the constant fighting they do over "WHO stole my meds".

So I Do understand the addiction to them we all just want to live pain free...I too found myself taking more and more to the point of back May of 2010 I endured, as some of you (sherry) remember the worst detox of my life....I have been very truthful with my doctor starting in October at an appt. I told her I wanted off because EVERY month I was playing the "how many did I take today & how many I promised I would take tomorrow INSANITY" she has now backed me down as apposed to giving me 120 a month I get them twice a month she said-BACK THEN, if she had to give me only a weeks supply in order to "help me keep them under control" I begged her for Suboxone or Methodone because at that time I really didn't think it mattered when or how many she prescribed I would go through them. She said she was "Impressed that I turned down 15 mg Roxy's" she offered...don't know if that was REALLY a compliment at this point?? But , I have been "Ok" so far...I guess I will have to see what the new year holds for me??
So, at this time in my life I am picking up 2 scripts a month, But... with the DEA laws I'm sure she won't be able to continue with that?? Just reading Agggony's comment that you will "Off yourself" before coming off your meds is EXACTLY how I feel and felt REASON I begged for methadone because I HAVE suffered with W/D'S and it is like a slow death...
God bless each and everyone of US that have to suffer each and every minute of the day....Never did I think at 44 that I would have the pain I have in my hands, knees & feet?? I was such an athlete from a young girl till 40 then my world changed.

Thanks again for the comments and I will be in contact with updates on Florida and the DEA..

Love N Hugs to all
Kim

[namnam46]

Kim- YES, I remember what you went through!!  Bless your heart.  I ADMIRE you so much for the way that you took charge of your life.  

And yes, that WAS a compliment that she gave you for turning down the 15 mg Roxy's!!

I'm VERY PROUD of what you have accomplished and what you are continuing to do.  Not EVERYONE would be able to do that.  :)

You KNOW that we are here to support you in ANYWAY that we can and at ANY TIME that you might need us.  :}

Much Love and MEGA {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}..........Mama Sherry

[namnam46]

I meant to add that there SHOULDN'T be a problem with her giving you 2 scripts a month OR even 4 scripts a month.  She just can't give out MORE than what is a NORMAL AMOUNT for the patient and their diagnosis.  :)

Just wanted to add that for you.  :)

[Going2WinN2010]

As always Sherry you have the kindest, most inspirational words.. not just for me, but for all of us on here!!! Thank you for you all of your support then and NOW! :-)

I was just going through my med cabinet and realized my doctor had prescribed back in October this medication called Neurontin (Generic for Gabapentin)100 mg to be taken 1 capsule 3 x's a day for help of my Restless Leg Syndrome-I did not check that medication off , actually I don't even remember seeing it on the DEA Form  they had me sign Thursday I ONLY checked off  my Xanax & my Percocet's. The Gabapentin is NOT a controlled substance so I'm wondering if it will even matter???? The other thing I remembered is I had a bottle of Flexerils from my previous doctor last January 2010 ..I took 1 a night at bed time back 2 weeks ago due to my sciatica pain from Well, God knows what? I have had it flare up from mopping, sneezing and my all time worst/favorite one?? I was just getting INTO bed???!!!
So, needless to say  I'm worried - I know it's not classified as a narcotic I just do not trust my doctors office staff to do there job accurately...Plus I was told back in 2007 when I used to get Botox that Why when my good friend and I would go together same day  she only needed to do so every 12 to 16 weeks as where I had to go back every 6 weeks? Our Dr. Gregory in Celebration, Florida  informed me that the only thing he could come up with as he was just as baffled too, but said he consulted other doctors and they all came to the same conclusion my body metabolized the Botox much quicker than the "normal" patient. He also asked about my childbearing of my children I told him that YES, with my Son 15 years ago, the epidural wore off with in 10 hours they so while I was "pushing" I felt EVERYTHING so my OBGyn/ obstetrician  had to give me a shot of "something" down below due to the fact I was SCREAMING!! So, I'm wondering too if that has anything to do with no matter what medication I take it wears off so soon...I feel like a drug addict but it has always been like this when I really think about it now...I can contact my Doctor that gave me the Botox, it's in my records??

But, I'm sure none of this will make a bit of difference to them its all up to the DEA'S finding in my Urine??
Just wanted to pass that by you as you seem to be very insightful on allot of issues.... :-)

Thanks again for your Kind words they mean so very much to me...now and always-
God bless you Sherry,
Kim

[Agggony]

    Hi Ya Flower, You said in this last comment that there are other drugs that can cause a"neg"  result even if you are taking the pain meds as prescribed?? What meds can cancel out Oxy Codone?  Get This ****, I was sure to take all 4 of the 15mg Oxy-I.Rs 1st. 2 of the last 3 tests,, came back "low" for the "expected level" So, at the 3rd appointment, fearing my test would come back low again, when asked how many tabs I took per day, I answered "3 per day" hoping that when the results came back "low" again it would match what I told her. Well,,,I was informed that the test came back as "higher"  then 3 per day. So this time I asked, What do you mean "Higher" by how much. She said that the test indicated I took closer to 4 per day.  I said, So what's the problem?? You allow me UP TO 4 per day! She says,, "Ya, but YOU SAID you only took 3 per day so this counts as a failed drug screen!!"  I can't win!! This from a Pain N-P who has screwed up 9 out of my last 10 prescriptions, even giving me 2 extra scripts for Oxy-I.R that I had to have the Rx destroy! I'm getting this level of harassment after 7 years with this clinic, for 7 years, NOT EVEN 1 failed drug test and for 7 years every U.A came back "At Expected Levels"  and I was just handed off to this Nurse Practitioner who don't know me or my history, She does not understand that even with the level of pain I still suffer everyday, I am a success story compared to where I was !! All she can see is the high dosage of pain meds and even though she sat there and told me that I have "The worst case of Facet Joint Disease and degenerated discs she has ever seen in her career " and that she"Does not know how I can tolerate the pain it must cause" She then says," You are on way too much pain meds and we have to get your dosage much lower" , The whole reason I ended up at the pain Clinic was because I asked my Prescribing Dr. to slowly lower my daily dosage just till I noticed my pain level rising. I spent a yr whit the "Addiction Specialist" lowering my dosage and just before she dumped me off on the nurse down the hall ,had given me back 2 of my 100mg doses per day because my pain level started to rise and my activity level was dropping off! Fact of the matter is this, The DEA and Cops are so far up these Dr.s ***** that They know every time a script for Controlled Sub.s is filled, Who wrote it and who got them, and Just because Narcotics were prescribed, The DEA has the authority to Pull a Dr.s files and spy on the patient!!  This is why I was forced to start seeing a new Dr. at my local clinic, The Dr. who knew me and me case, The Dr. that I chose and respected was busted by her boss after replacing Pain meds for a women who lied and said her's were stolen, 1 st they pulled her license to write Nark scripts, then put her on leave during the police investigation, She just told them all to F-OFF and quit! I miss her SO SO much, It is so hard to find a Dr. willing to treat Chronic Pain, and they are very good at finding a way to be rid of people like me! Please tell me what meds can effect a Nark **** test, Mine keep coming back wrong and they said "Just 1 more and I will need to find some else to provide pain meds!  Thanks

[Agggony]

        I can totally relate to your "Insanity" comment, Before I came clean with my Dr. and told him that I was taking more then prescribed , I was playing the, Feel OK for a week and then suffer like hell for 3 weeks with pain and detox,  I called it "STUCK ON STUPID: I told Dr. that I wanted OFF the OxyContin and no matter what I said ,,to never give them to me ever again, i WAS JUST TOO EASY TO TAKE A COUPLE OF EXTRAS AND FEEL GREAT So he switched me to Kadian, a 24 hr Morphine, He gave me a Pringels Chip can full of 100mg Kadian and told me to take as many as I needed to get my pain tolerable and come back in a month and show him a list of how many tabs I took and when. So That I did! After getting my pain level down I was able to start doing P-T and stretching, over the next 2 yrs I went from lying in my Hosp, bed dreaming about the day that I could Off my self, to using a power chair to get to the bath rm, then to a pair of crutches for a few months ,Then down to a cane for about a yr, It was during my cane days that I had Dr. cut my Morphine by 50% and I am now back to work a few hrs a day  

[tunder657]

Get this, a new law now says that is when you go the doc for anything you now have to be pee tested, if you tyested dirty the doc has to call the law and you are arrested on the spot, but not on state charges but on Fed. charges. This law has yet to even be made public knowledge and will soon take effect.

[Chimerasmami]

I recently just recieved a call back from a PMC, after being hung up on because I dont have any insurance. Along with alot of you I have NO PROBLEM being tested for illegal drugs but this is my issue; I live in OHIO and apparently in the last ten years the morons in this state have been "ACCIDENTALY" killing themselves from overdoses. I will be the first to admit that this state is boring as all get out but I have been on these meds for 10 years and I think if I were going to do something of that nature it would have already happened. I have bulging discs, pinched/ damaged nerves and degenerative disc disease. Unfortunately I need the pain meds just to have a resemblence to a normal life and now because of all the retards who abused these meds I can barely get treated. Add to that I am only 35yrs old so I have a lifetime of this excrutiating pain to look forward to. I guess my gripe is, why dont  doctors take people on a case to case basis anymore? I feel lumped in with the drug seekers and I am so freakin sick of it. Anyone have any ideas on what to do or should I just move to another state?

[ariel66002]

YOU are a MORON!! I am a Mother who lost her 19 year old daughter to an accidental overdose of medication that was prescribed to her from a car accident. The medicine had a bad reaction with her system and she passed away. do not just picture drug addicts sitting in crack houses overdosing. It happened to normal happy people all the time.


Idiot!

[njcelt]

This just started in PA, I can't understand what is going on in this world. 13 things they made me initial, then sign at the bottom.
I saw nothing stating what they would do if you failed, just that you need to do it, or not get your meds.

My issue is this. My body highly metabolises, my current pain meds, so blood tests don't even prove anything, other then, that I took it, in front of them, and it was gone 60% in one hour, and totally gone in four. So what is this urinalysis, going to prove?

[DrugfreebyCHOICE]

Well that's awfully nice to be giving advice as to "beat the pee test". I think the whole system is garbage. If you are in enough pain that you have to go to pain management and get 120 pain pills prescribed a month, but then are saying that you have to take meds before your appointment to make sure it comes up in your system, sounds to me as if everyone is a bit guilty of some type of over-dramatizing their pain. The world of addicts ***** and for the people who desperately try to deal with their pain in the correct way get walked over because everyone likes to be sneaky, devious, lying, stealing, selling, and manipulating. I know how this all works. I've watched it everyday as I've grown up. So here is the answer in addition to getting randomly tested.....take your pills with you!!!! Allow them to do a count and test your urine. This way you won't have to be "worried" about having it in your system. But we all know that it's an easy way to make some money....I know they are sold for profit....and $155 for 120 pills is tripled at least....oh...and plus...most of it is paid by the government for the ones who didn't know that a lot of the patients are on government insurance paying their Dr. visits and prescriptions 100%. Again...abuse of the system. Everyone should have random tests but they should also have to do a count at each appointment and throw some random counts in also.  This world of drug abuse makes me sick!! Funny thing is I go to Pain Management...and advised them I will deal with the discomfort and find ways to help myself without resorting to narcotics unless I am in serious un-resolving pain. Now as for the ones who are in so much pain and have pain meds prescribed...do the world a favor, the children, your family, and yourself....keep them locked up, take them as prescribed, and if you get addicted....then you need help outside of pain management. So for all the idiots that abuse our system, you deserve much more than the pain you so called cant deal with. You don't deserve to breathe the same air as the ones who are living life the way it was intended....

[f6f3]

WOW... DrugfreebyCHOICE you sound like someone with alot of passion about the issue. I agree with you. I have seen alot of postings over the past couple years about people complaining about what they have to do when they visit their PM clinic. If people are following their Doctor's direction they should not ever worry about a urine/blood test to verify if they are taking their prescribed Rx. I get tested at my PM clinic and never worry because I understand the process and what is happening. I applaud you for enduring your pain without the use of narcotics. However, I believe my quality of life would be less if I did not take pain meds so therefore I choose to take them. I appriciate your input .      

[squishedonabridgejob]

do the clinics share the test results with law enforcement?hsa anybody experienced this? Are they allowed to do this?