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Taking Norco. What Does An Opiate Level Of 7,500 On A Drug Test Mean?
Hi and thank you so much for this query.
I feel honored having this opportunity to address some of your health concerns.
Sorry to hear about your history of Chronic fatigue/ fibromyalgia.
I am Dr. Ditah and i will be helping you out with this question today.
Norco is a pain killer that contains hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Hydrocodone is a semi synthetic opioid belonging to the family of opiates. Measuring the opiate level is an indirect means of estimating how much of this drug is in your system(if you are taking it as it is the case with you). The dose you are taking is adequate and can be adjusted based on whether your pains are well controlled or not or side the effects you are experiencing.
I don't exactly understand what you mean by having average test results of 50...Could you be more specific on this? Does it mean the average values you have been having on previous testings? If this is the answer, then the first thing to do is to repeat the test to make sure it is correct because the difference is too wide.
However, a value of 7500 is above the threshold of 2000 for detecting persons who abuse opioids. Because you are on this, it is more to make sure you are receiving the appropriate doses and taken it than for legal purposes.
I hope this answers your question. Please feel free to provide more information on the above question especially if you feel the information you are looking for has not been provided. In this case, make the question very specific.
I wish you good health.
Dr. Ditah, MD.
I feel honored having this opportunity to address some of your health concerns.
Sorry to hear about your history of Chronic fatigue/ fibromyalgia.
I am Dr. Ditah and i will be helping you out with this question today.
Norco is a pain killer that contains hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Hydrocodone is a semi synthetic opioid belonging to the family of opiates. Measuring the opiate level is an indirect means of estimating how much of this drug is in your system(if you are taking it as it is the case with you). The dose you are taking is adequate and can be adjusted based on whether your pains are well controlled or not or side the effects you are experiencing.
I don't exactly understand what you mean by having average test results of 50...Could you be more specific on this? Does it mean the average values you have been having on previous testings? If this is the answer, then the first thing to do is to repeat the test to make sure it is correct because the difference is too wide.
However, a value of 7500 is above the threshold of 2000 for detecting persons who abuse opioids. Because you are on this, it is more to make sure you are receiving the appropriate doses and taken it than for legal purposes.
I hope this answers your question. Please feel free to provide more information on the above question especially if you feel the information you are looking for has not been provided. In this case, make the question very specific.
I wish you good health.
Dr. Ditah, MD.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Thank you Dr. Ditah. I am routinely tested by court order. I am prescribed 4 Norcos per day and the last test result prior to this one was 500 actually (not 50). How many Norcos would I have to have taken to get a score or 7500 and would you still be alive at those levels?
Thanks for this follow up and the precision on the last value, which was actually 500.
Q. How many Norcos would I have to have taken to get a score or 7500 and would you still be alive at those levels?
A. To be honest you need to take so many tablets to have this high values on drug testing (much more than the 4tablets you get daily). The value of 7500 is too high and the difference with the previous testing values of 500 is too much. The first reflex is to control the test and make sure we are dealing with the true value. If the value should be confirmed, then we shall start to figure out what may have caused this. In addition, reaching a value these high and not reporting symptoms of serious side effects is rare. I am not surprised you question if you could still be alive with these high value, too.
What are my suggestions? Please get the test controlled. I have this strong feeling that it may not be very correct and more so because you don't present with signs of overdose.
I wish you a good health. Please, also feel free if need be to get back to me with more questions.
Dr. Ditah, MD.
Q. How many Norcos would I have to have taken to get a score or 7500 and would you still be alive at those levels?
A. To be honest you need to take so many tablets to have this high values on drug testing (much more than the 4tablets you get daily). The value of 7500 is too high and the difference with the previous testing values of 500 is too much. The first reflex is to control the test and make sure we are dealing with the true value. If the value should be confirmed, then we shall start to figure out what may have caused this. In addition, reaching a value these high and not reporting symptoms of serious side effects is rare. I am not surprised you question if you could still be alive with these high value, too.
What are my suggestions? Please get the test controlled. I have this strong feeling that it may not be very correct and more so because you don't present with signs of overdose.
I wish you a good health. Please, also feel free if need be to get back to me with more questions.
Dr. Ditah, MD.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
What the symptoms or presentation of opiate overdose be?
Hi and thanks for this follow up question.
The side effects of opiate overdose include the following:
Shallow breathing, slow heartbeat, stiff muscles, seizure (convulsions)
severe weakness, feeling like you might pass out, trouble swallowing, urinating less than usual or not at all, pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating, or easy bruising, unusual bleeding, purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin. These are considered severe and you should consult your treating doctor immediately because they are life threatening.
There are however some less severe ones like, weight loss, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, strange dreams etc. These ones don't need immediate consultation because they are not life threatening. But if you cannot tolerate them, you may want to talk with your treating doctor to review your medications.
Hope this answers your question.
Dr. Ditah, MD.
The side effects of opiate overdose include the following:
Shallow breathing, slow heartbeat, stiff muscles, seizure (convulsions)
severe weakness, feeling like you might pass out, trouble swallowing, urinating less than usual or not at all, pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating, or easy bruising, unusual bleeding, purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin. These are considered severe and you should consult your treating doctor immediately because they are life threatening.
There are however some less severe ones like, weight loss, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, strange dreams etc. These ones don't need immediate consultation because they are not life threatening. But if you cannot tolerate them, you may want to talk with your treating doctor to review your medications.
Hope this answers your question.
Dr. Ditah, MD.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Thank you Dr. Ditah. What would the symptoms be if someone with chronic fatigue stayed up for 48 hrs moving very heavy objects and under severe stress due to an impending divorce. This is what happened on that particular period. Thank you again for the great help.
Hi and thanks for this follow up query.
I am very sorry to hear this was what happened on that day.
However, this can not have any influence on what the values of opioids would be on drug testing and more so to the very high values we observed. I still maintain the values need to be checked.
For the impending divorce, i will advice that you XXXXXXX and discuss with a marriage counselor and see if there is anything you can do to save your marriage if this is your wish or on various coping strategies for people going through a divorce process.
Thanks and hope this answered your query.
I wish you good health and hope you get the best outcome as concerns your marriage.
If you feel satisfied, you may consider closing the discussion at this point.
I am very sorry to hear this was what happened on that day.
However, this can not have any influence on what the values of opioids would be on drug testing and more so to the very high values we observed. I still maintain the values need to be checked.
For the impending divorce, i will advice that you XXXXXXX and discuss with a marriage counselor and see if there is anything you can do to save your marriage if this is your wish or on various coping strategies for people going through a divorce process.
Thanks and hope this answered your query.
I wish you good health and hope you get the best outcome as concerns your marriage.
If you feel satisfied, you may consider closing the discussion at this point.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Thank you for the great advice. My counselor noted that I looked like I was "on" something when the test was taken. I was hoping you would confirm that indeed Chronic Fatigue can result in just as extreme tiredness and inability to concentrate as being on to many opiates.
Hi and thanks for the follow up and your appreciation.
The signs and symptom of opiates overdose are clearly different from those of extreme tiredness. For example, Chronic tiredness cannot cause the pinpoint pupils, respiratory depression, that are classical in opioids overdose. A professional will never mistake one for the other.
Again thanks for this opportunity that we have had to exchange information on this forum.
I am happy for the confidence you bestowed on me.
Hope you will consider using our services when need be in future.
At this time, I will kindly suggest that you close the discussion and rate the interaction and information I have provided so far.
I wish you good health.
Dr. Ditah, MD.
The signs and symptom of opiates overdose are clearly different from those of extreme tiredness. For example, Chronic tiredness cannot cause the pinpoint pupils, respiratory depression, that are classical in opioids overdose. A professional will never mistake one for the other.
Again thanks for this opportunity that we have had to exchange information on this forum.
I am happy for the confidence you bestowed on me.
Hope you will consider using our services when need be in future.
At this time, I will kindly suggest that you close the discussion and rate the interaction and information I have provided so far.
I wish you good health.
Dr. Ditah, MD.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vasanth
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