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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by honeybee on June 27, 2006, at 10:17:10
So, I don't use drugs, but when I was in the hospital recently (last week, psych ward, yay, fun) they did an amphetamine (and presumably everything else) test and it came up positive. It doesn't matter protesting that I don't use them. When I asked them what it could be, they suggested Ritalin and Adderal--but I've never taken any of those drugs in my life!
So, my question is, would there be any other cause to a positive on the amphetamines? I was only taking prozac at the time, a B-100 vitamin complex (with extra vitamin C), occaisional fish oil and evening prim oil. But no uppers, so far as I know. I have a situation where my heart is always racing (And so at the hospital they put me on cymbalta and now I have to take klonopin, too, to make sure that my heart doesn't really really race). Anyway, now I'm wondering if there might be some other possible endogenous cause? Would high catecholamines, for example, make for a false positive?
Thanks, all.
hb
p.s. I did post this on the substance abuse board, too, to see if anyone there had any thoughts. Not really sure where it belongs, because it seems to straddle some things.
Posted by Phillipa on June 27, 2006, at 11:55:51
In reply to False positive Amphetamine Drug Test???, posted by honeybee on June 27, 2006, at 10:17:10
Could they have mixed your test up with someone else's?. Is it too late to have it repeated? Hospitals mix up lab tests all the time. And this is very distressing to you. Do you have a hx of drug abuse? Love Phillipa
Posted by honeybee on June 27, 2006, at 11:59:26
In reply to Re: False positive Amphetamine Drug Test??? » honeybee, posted by Phillipa on June 27, 2006, at 11:55:51
No history of drug abuse. I do wonder if they mixed mine up with someone elses (I didn't realize that happened occasionally). Because I have a history of anorexia and bulemia (though I've been "clean" for 8 years) they seemed to think I may be taking diet pills.
Sigh.
I'm not! I'm just super depressed and skinny and have no appetite.
Should I ask my new pdoc to repeat the test?
hb
Posted by med_empowered on June 27, 2006, at 13:41:15
In reply to Re: False positive Amphetamine Drug Test???, posted by honeybee on June 27, 2006, at 11:59:26
hi! false positives happen. It could be a mix up, it could be a cross-reaction with a med (I think cough and cold stuff can do that sort of thing), or it could just be a false positive, with no real explanation other than some sort of error. It happens.
Posted by Phillipa on June 27, 2006, at 20:31:36
In reply to Re: False positive Amphetamine Drug Test???, posted by honeybee on June 27, 2006, at 11:59:26
Definitely have them repeat the test and check with you doc if he has any idea other than mixing up the specimens what could have caused it. Good Luck Phillipa
Posted by saturn on June 27, 2006, at 21:42:39
In reply to False positive Amphetamine Drug Test???, posted by honeybee on June 27, 2006, at 10:17:10
Have you taken sudafed/pseudoephedrine? It is contained in some OTC combinations and prescription allergy medicine and will commonly cause a false positive amphetamine result. Certain nasal sprays such as Vicks will also cause a positive amphetamine result.
Posted by honeybee on June 28, 2006, at 8:18:10
In reply to Re: False positive Amphetamine Drug Test??? » honeybee, posted by saturn on June 27, 2006, at 21:42:39
Yeah, I'm aware of the sudafed (ephedrine) possibility--and with the nasal sprays. But I hadn't been taking anything excepting a few OTC supplements--B vitamins, fish oil, evening prim oil--which do *not* have any kind of amphetamine like substance in them (at least according to their labels).
When I talked to my doc about repeating the test, he said, why would you need to? You know you're not taking amphetamines. And I said, well, to see if it comes up positive again and indicates that something else is going on.
He said not to rush into anything. Meanwhile, on this new med (cymbalta) my heart rate is holding steady between 90-110 beats a minute. ARGH. They tell me not to worry. But we are in the process of probably changing meds.
Thanks everyone.
hb
Posted by linkadge on June 29, 2006, at 15:59:39
In reply to Re: False positive Amphetamine Drug Test???, posted by honeybee on June 28, 2006, at 8:18:10
Yeah, the noradrenergic meds *always* increased my pulse. Effexor doubled my pulse from ~60 to 120bpm. Its disturbing. I got off it for this reason.
Linakdge
Posted by honeybee on June 29, 2006, at 16:01:09
In reply to Re: False positive Amphetamine Drug Test???, posted by linkadge on June 29, 2006, at 15:59:39
But, Link, do you notice the same effect with fish oil? Doesn't it also promote NE production? (And dopamine, for that matter...)
Posted by llrrrpp on June 29, 2006, at 16:59:16
In reply to Re: False positive Amphetamine Drug Test??? » linkadge, posted by honeybee on June 29, 2006, at 16:01:09
cymbalta occasionally causes increased pulse for me, usually for an hour or three at a time. My usual resting pulse is around 70. On cymbalta, especially @ the beginning, it would jump up to 90-100. Once I clocked myself going 110. I should get a ticket for speeding.
Now that I've been on it for a few weeks, (1 week 30mg, 5 weeks 60, 2 weeks 90) I notice this less and less. And it has helped my depression a lot. I can think and remember and feel things (my feelings are currently undergoing revision courtesy of therapy) and my appetite has gotten better. I was losing weight too. Unlike you, though, I could stand to lose a few.
-ll
Posted by linkadge on June 29, 2006, at 19:24:07
In reply to Re: False positive Amphetamine Drug Test??? » honeybee, posted by llrrrpp on June 29, 2006, at 16:59:16
I had never heard that fish oil increase norepinephrine production or activity.
I thought I read the opposite somewhere. But I stand to be corrected if it is true.
Linkadge
This is the end of the thread.
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