Can Tramadol Cause A False Positive For Methadone On A Urine Drug Screen? (Top voted first)

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I was taken to the ER by ambulance this week because I had a seizure and fell, hitting my head on concrete & was unconscious for about 10 min. Luckily I was in our parking lot & someone witnessed the whole event, so I got help right away! When I came to I had no idea where I was (I thought I was in our living room even tho I was actually laying outside in 4in of fresh snow & it was raining). In the ER they told me my urine was positive for methadone & asked me where I got the pill from, told me this is why I had a seizure & could go home. I was speechless!!! Talk about shocked! I've never seen methodone let alone taken it & I've never had a seizure before so I was scared by this event & wanted them to figure out what really caused it! I asked them to test another sample while I was still there (thought they mixed up samples or something), again was positive for methodone. My daily meds are Tramadol, Yasmin, Clonazepam, Ibuprofen & I had taken 2 of my Percocet for pain the day before, but don't take that everyday. Could any of these have caused the false-positive on the urine test? I am really upset about this-I don't want to have that in my medical record because it's inaccurate & I don't want my doc to become suspiscious of me in any way, plus I work for my dr's office. I also want to know what caused it so I don't have problems with future pre-employment tests. I called the ER the next day to asked them to send my urine for gas chromatography, but I'm not sure whether they'll do this since they don't feel this is medically necessary even if the result was inaccurate. The ER doc thinks it may have been the tramadol that caused the false positive because tramadol & methadone one are both synthetic opiates & I take a high dose: I've taken 400mg daily x 4 years. I would greatly appreciate any insight anyone could provide me about this false positive!!! Thank you!

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Tramadol most definitely causes false positives for methadone. It happens fairly often with our patients and always causes problems. An in depth study (one that takes longer than a dip stick) should reveal the actual metabolite. Oxycodone cannot give a false read nor could heroin or any other opiate. They all have their own signatures. Furthermore tramadol decreases the siezure threshold and is known to cause seizures which is why it should nnever be given to somebody with a history of seizures. What backwoods hospital was this!!?

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7

Hello I just recently got my daughter back from foster care I am on suboxen and my doctor prescribed me tramadol also know as ultram I usually only take them once in a while. So I took a couple a couple of days ago and got called in to screen on a 9 panel urine screen of which tested positive for methadone I used to be on methadone 5 years ago but haven't taken any type of narcotics. I went and had my blood drawn for methadone because I know I haven't done it but my question is how in the world would that cause me to test positive for methadone and why I couldn't live threw then taking my daughter again.

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16

Tan, The Benzos were negative on the urine, because Ambien (Zolpidem) it is a separate test not included in most testing...requires different reagents on EIA, and really is not a true benzodiazepine, although it is related to it. As for the Methadone, Tramadol can cause a false positive for methadone. Please read this abstract I printed: A total of 25 reports of false-positive UDS results were identified. Categories of medications included antihistamines, antidepressants, antibiotics, analgesics, antipsychotics, and nonprescription agents. Reports of false-positive results were found for the following formulary and nonprescription medications: brompheniramine, bupropion, chlorpromazine, clomipramine, dextromethorphan, diphenhydramine, doxylamine, ibuprofen, naproxen, promethazine, quetiapine, quinolones (ofloxacin and gatifloxacin), ranitidine, sertraline, thioridazine, trazodone, venlafaxine, verapamil, and a nonprescription nasal inhaler. False-positive results for amphetamine and methamphetamine were the most commonly reported. False-positive results for methadone, opioids, phencyclidine, barbiturates, cannabinoids, and benzodiazepines were also reported in patients taking commonly used medications. The most commonly used tests to screen urine for drugs of abuse are immunoassays, even though false-positive results for drugs of abuse have been reported with a number of these rapid-screening products. Results from such tests should be confirmed using additional analytical methods, including gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. SO in conclusion, your urine drug test should have been sent for GC/MS or LC/MS/MS confirmation. Anything else will not be true. Best Wishes. PS I am a Toxicologist and a PhD

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6

I'm looking for a case history on a drug called "Tramadol" or a Expert in the field, if this drug can test positive for Methadone.
When given a urine testing .This drug goes also under the name of Ultram.
Experts in France states it can but what about in the USA?
Any info would be deeply appreciated.
Thank you for your concern in the above matter.

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1

I feel pretty sure that tramadol does not test positive for methadone. I would actually think that the percocet actually caused the testing positive on the methadone. I have taken tramadol in the past and take drug test and tested postive. The thing that really stands out for me is that you had a seizure and never had one before. I also had a seizure from the tramadol as well after 5 years of taking it. I later deeply researched it and found that the tramadol in large doses was found to cause seizures. I would be more worried about the seizure if I was you and get off the tramadol. Just get on some other actual narcotics. Seizures can cause real damage to your health and if you start having more of them and happen to have one while you are driving that could be your life. If not your life you will lose your drivers license for sure. Be careful seizures are scary. Focus on that. If you take percocet just take that for the pain. Be careful . Seizures are not good at all.

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11

Same thing happened to me so I took a home test and it was fine. When I brought it up to my pain management doctor who kept accusing me of taking methadone, they showed me the confirmation they get that comes back when they send out for deeper results and it showed the Tramadol was what was showing up as methadone. So YES, it's the Tramadol. They almost dropped me from pain management because of this. Very frustrating. If I had given up, it would have caused me major problems

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13

hey i take tramadol also and im sitting at home instead of at work bc i just tested positive for methadone and ive never even seen it much less taken it im soooooo hoping the test they sent to the lab is going to clear this up thanks for everyones post its crazy how ur life can change in one simple cup

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14

I tested positive for methadone once after taking tramadol. I had never taken methadone and wouldn't even know where to get it. I guess I was really lucky that my dentist verified that she prescribed it the week before after I told her that I was in a 12 step program, and that my only addiction was to Percocet after a lengthy battle with cancer and a subsequent problem with frequent bone fractures. Once I started my program I stayed clean for over a year before this even showed up, and I have never had another positive. If I wanted to take methadone, I would have switched to methadone instead of the Suboxone program I'm already in.
So to docjohn- please check your facts. You are accusing people of lying and by your user name, suggesting that you have the superior medical expertise to do so. If you are a doctor, please do more research. I'm sure there are many addicts in recovery who are trying to cheat the system, but there are also many of us who are staying clean, and we need some support. If I can go to google scholar to learn more about false positives with tramadol and methadone, then surely an actual doctor can as well.

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19

I just tested positive for Methadone and have not taken it. I had taken Tramadol the day before. So, for some reason Tramadol shows up as a false positive for Methadone. They did not think I was telling them truth that I had taken Tramadol and not Methadone.
So, Tramadol will show up as Methadone.

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5

i take truvada,norvir,prezista,warafin doxazisin and tramadol my drug test came back positive for morphine and opiates can any of these cause a false positive in combination with each other because i did not take the morphine or any opiate please help me here

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9

I have also been testing positive for Methdadone. I also take Tramadol. You do the math. I am in Pain Management and they need to find Oxycodone in my system and said it wasn't there. (so it's not the peroset) I was terminated from pain management, begged to be given one more chance. I requested my primary do a blood test and urine test to find out what is going on. I have seen common threads about Tramadol so I feel positive that's what it is. Am laying off it for a week to see results and running my own test at home.

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12

Ricky, Thank for the support of letting people know that dip sticks, card tests, and uring cup tests give many false negatives, but upon confirmation testing via LC/MS/MS or GC/MS it definitively would be only the compound of interest. Ions do not lie or switch back and forth...for the most part...lol

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15

I to had a false positive methadone result on a random urine drug test TODAY!!!!!! I was extremely upset, see I've been with the same doctor for 22 years and ten of the years I was her nurse! ( embarrassing ) I have been on 400mg of Tramodol for 4 years as well! And NEVER EVER took methadone either . I left in tears and innocent of methadone! I REFUSED ANOTHER TEST, and asked for them to run another test on same urine. Too boot I take ambien for sleep EVERY NIGHT and it was negative for benzoids , so my Dr. Then asked if I was taking my ambien. The answer was yes. So.... WTF

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18

Dear Tan,
An observed urine by the nurse is a ridiculous thing to ask, especially if the first urine was "hot"....ridiculous. Try to cut and paste my reply into a word document. I took my quote from the article and pasted it into this...so it should be ok. Good luck. I understand how hard it is, and I too am on pain management and I am a doctor....lol.

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20

I have never seen a methadone , I take valum, narco, tramadole , an I have migraine pills ( bupropion , I just got put on Al, till the Breake Down of my test comes back, because it sAid I tested positive for (methadone) on the drug screen, they told me that the tamedole is what caused the reading , by mixing with one of my other meds, I freaked out, I'll be off for at least a week waiting on the test to come back, with pay, but I would rather be working, it was very humiliating to me..

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JT and others: Please read my other posts concerning false positives on methadone caused by tramadol (Ultram). NO screening test can be used to determine positive drugs...cups, cards, and even EIA testing is screening NOT Definitive, IT must be CONFIRMED by GC/MS or LC/MS/MS. Doctor's offices, clinics. etc use "rapid tests" which are ONLY A SCREEN and they cannot determine your actual drug without a confimatory test. Observed urine collections can be illegal in some situations.

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4

Hello.
I went in for a Urine Screen to confirm that I am taking the Dexedrine and Valium that I am prescribed. Unfortunately, I tested negative for Dexedrine- when I know there is no way I didn't have it in my system. The drugs that I took prior to the Urine Screening were:
Methadone (taken occasionally for pain) (10mg)
Dexedrine (10mg x twice a day)
Valium (as needed, averaging 3 mg every other day)
possibly Lasix (a 'water pill)- occasionally taken for PMS symptoms (I can't recall if I took this, if I did it would have been half a pill - amounting to 40mg I believe)
I expected all of these to appear on the test. I heard from a Friend that Methadone and Dexedrine 'cancel eachother out'. But- upon further research, I found some research claiming that Lasix can actually mask methadone intake.
I should note that I did test positive for Valium.
I know that Methadone is not considered safe with the other drugs- and I don't take it on a regular basis.
If anyone has any experience or medical suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated!

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17

How do I print this out for my internist ? It's " ask. Com ? Please help this could be useful?! Do you think I was wrong to decline another test? I was at my Dr. App for needed EKG, Chem panel and CBC for rotator surgery on March 2. This is why I've been taking Ultram everyday. My PCP accuses me of methadone abuse! I NEVER saw that coming!!!! She then goes on to tell me she's reporting this to the ORTHO Dr. Whom will be doing my surgery and went on to explain that no anesthesiologist will put me under for up coming surgery due to a positive methadone test;( so this false negative has had quite an impact on my future! My denial of another test was my decision and made me appear guilty for not giving another urine! My doctor then went on to say I may have had someone's urine ? I said I handed the lab tech a hot urine sample and WHY would I chance a dirty urine? She then said to exonerate my self by giving another with a nurse in the bathroom! At that point I declined and said this whole thing has been very embarrassing and now a permanent documentation in my chart!

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29

Oh yes Tramadol does cause a false positive for methadone in a urine test. I've never taken methadone before in my life but I've taken Tramadol for yrs and my urine test turned up positive for methadone twice but the tramadol didn't show up on the drug test at all. It happened again this morning to me in a urine drug test. It tested positive for methadone and nothing for tramadol. So the test are causing problems for people taking tramadol and some of the doctors don't seem to have a clue that tis is happening. even the company that makes tramadol said 4 out of 10 people taking tramadol will have a false positive on a drug urine test when taking tramadol.

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35

Tramadol does show a positive and negative in urine it happened to me and I called my pharmacy and he said it can

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