Ambien Saliva Compliance Test
UpdatedI have been with my current doctors office for over 12 years. For that same time period, they have been prescribing me ambien to take on a regular basis for anxiety related insomnia. The only other medication I take is atenolol for PVC's and neurontin for nerve pain related to ACDF surgery last year and other problems in my neck. The past year or so the practice has understandably seemed jumpy about controlled substance prescriptions, requiring more frequent visits, etc. Last week when I went in for medication adjustment they surprised me with a "random" medication compliance drug screening. I was told they would just be testing for the ambien to make sure I am taking it. I take this medicine faithfully every night for better or worse. I am one of those who admittedly has become addicted to it so there is no way I can't take it given the choice. So I agree to the test and they offer me either a saliva test or a urine test. Not knowing much about these compliance tests I choose the saliva test because why pee in a cup if I don't have to? Well I got a call a few days ago that the test came back negative for ambien. They then proceeded to call my pharmacy who tells the office worker handling this that I get my prescription every month and even get it a few days early every month. Well I am on automated refills, prescriptions go thru the insurance usually after 28 days and when I get the text that they are ready I pick them up because I am going to pick them up eventually! So she uses this as more ammo that I am abusing the system and pretty much without saying it accuses me of selling my ambien. She then says I am being dismissed from the practice effective immediately. This is very upsetting to me to a) be treated like a criminal when the suggestion that I am not taking my ambien is laughable and b) to have to find a new doctor after being with this practice for so long. The research I have been able to come up with is that this test was flawed from the beginning. I take my ambien usually around 11pm every night. They administered this test at 3pm. From what I gather, there is no reason that they should have expected to find the ambien in my saliva anyway because it is essentially undetectable even after about 8 hours let alone 16. Can anyone help with providing a detection window for ambien in saliva? I called the lab who processed the test and they won't speak with me about even the most general information like detection times. They keep telling me to talk to my doctor. I guess they don't understand that now because of this I don't have a doctor. Is it unreasonable to want to have a meeting with the office manager or doctor to discuss these results? I am so stressed out about all of this. I am not a criminal and I take my medication. Any help is appreciated.
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