Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with urinetest

Is it normal for psychiatrists to require urine tests while taking Adderall?

Anonymous — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 12:35:48 -0800

Is it standard operating procedure for psychiatrists to give urine tests while using Adderall to treat ADHD? My therapist recently referred me to to a psychiatric nurse to get evaluated for ADHD. The nurse administered the evaluation and, seeing that all signs pointed to "bloody likely," gave me a prescription for Adderall.

As she was giving me the prescription, she warned me that I will need to have my urine tested periodically at a lab, and that she would be the only one to see the results. I was initially very anxious, as I have never submitted to a urine test in my life, but she explained that periodical urinalysis is part of the regulations for prescribing Schedule II drugs. I don't believe her, as post-facto googling turned up nothing. I would prefer not to have my pee peered at if I can avoid it.

Are periodical urine tests while on a Schedule II drug required by law, or would I be able to find another psychiatric professional who would not require them?

I am in Rhode Island, if local regulations make a difference.

What do my cotinine test results mean?

Anonymous — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 20:01:29 -0800

I just got back my lab results from a life insurance physical, and it's showing results for tobacco use. I had told the doctor that I'm a nonsmoker - how screwed am I? I am a light-moderate smoker (a pack or so a week), and I didn't even realize that a urine test could be used for tobacco (I'm a moron). The number on the lab results is 2.31 (no units) and there is a mysterious "H" next to the number (none of my other results have this and I'm not sure what it means. Based on some googling, it looks like below 10ng or so is unlikely for someone who is a smoker and is more likely to be secondhand smoke exposure. Is my 2.31 measured in ng or something else? What does the mysterious "H" mean? Am I going to get into legal trouble for having lied to the doctor? Can I offer to retake the test (I am perfectly capable of not smoking for a few days, even a week or so, if that would help)? Please advise!

I gotta pee

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:56:25 -0800

Despertaly needing some extra income, I've applied to Target for a position unloading trucks at night. I have two concerns. Drugs and money. I do not do any illicit or illegal drug, and haven't for over six months (pot). I do, however, take a rather low dose of Lithium (300mg daily) as well as Prozac (60 mg), Serequal
Serequal (50mg) and 1-2 mg of Klonopin a day.
Additionally I take massive vitimas and minerals. I inject (MD prescribed) 2 mg of liquid (obviously) B12 every 3 days. Orally I take 10,000 MG of B12, 35 of Niacin,45 MG of B6, a liquid concoction of 130 nutrients and vitamins. 10 ml of cod liver oil, 15 mg of Flaxseed oil, and a quart of sugar free fruit juice.
This is excessive, but temporary. My concern is...the urine/drug test, not only will I pass it, but will I come off as a freakin psyco dude.
And if I can slip this in, I'm used to making a salary. I am supposed to ask them for an hourly wage, which they will meet, offer a comprmise, or just laugh and tell me to hit the highway? What's that kinda job pay in the North East (US)? $15?
This is not as desperate as it might come across, but things will be pretty grim if I don't get a second job.
Advice?
Sorry for the length and the rambling on about me and my rather minor problems. Thanks for any imput.

Have you ever failed a pre-employment drug test?

Anonymous — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 13:03:58 -0800

I am interested in hearing about any Mefis out there that have failed a pre-employment drug test, and how they handled issues with the hiring company and testing company. Basically, I want to know how you were notified and what happened afterwards.

Detecting coffee spiked with xanax?

cps — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 15:38:11 -0800

Can xanax dissolved in coffee be detected by a regular urine test? There's some background information on the question inside. I should note that this question is mostly hypothetical. The acquaintance who posed it to me tends to be...an unreliable narrator, at times. That said:

An acquaintance of mine says that his friend -- who used to use xanax, but detoxed off it some time ago -- called him a few days ago, saying she was feeling a bit weird and loopy. She asked if he could test her for xanax, and came up positive. She suspects spiking of the office coffee.

Here's what he asked me, and what I'm asking: would it be possible, using an ordinary urine test, to determine whether the coffee is, indeed, spiked?

My thinking is that these tests screen for *metabolites*, i.e. the resulting chemical after your body is done processing the drug, rather than the drug itself. However, I'm not sure of this; perhaps some amount of the drug goes into urine unprocessed, and the normal tests *do* detect straight xanax.

So, does anyone have more definitive information on these tests that would clarify whether testing the coffee would work?

[I told this guy that the whole story sounds unlikely to me -- but that if any of it is true, a very serious crime is being committed and authorities should be involved (and they would do proper lab tests). He made some vague reassuring noises.

Just to be clear: This guy could be bullshitting me, his friend could be bullshitting him, heck his friend could be imaginary for all I know. At this point, I'm just curious...call it story research. Any answers appreciated]