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How Long Does Methadone Remain In The System For Urine Test?

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Posted on Fri, 27 May 2016
Question: I'm out of the detox now since Mar 8th. I'm concerned that if those urine results come back showing methadone in my system, and I cant tell him I had a temporary bout with heavy drinking, they may just call me and say that I'm terminated from their practice. Then what do I do?. I know they can only detect methadone thru the Gas chromography test, not a straight 5-panel test, I just don't know which one the lab is gonna use. If they terminate me , then I'll have a severe dopamine problem. I understand theres a drug called Levodopa that can help restore dopamine levels, but of course then I'd also have the chronic pain back.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
levodopa is used in parkinsonism

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome back.

There is no need to tell about drinking otherwise you may be in trouble. Just revert back to me with results.

Hope lab will use simple method and you will pass the test. By chance if you cannot, there will be dopamine problem according to you. I guess you want to communicate that you will have depression.


Dopamine is derived from tyrosine amino acid. However tyrosine is precursor of many of the substances in body.

I have not found any human studies to determine what percentage of this amino acid is converted in L-dopa and doapmine. There is probably a great deal of individual variability.

L Tyrosine may help some people in their fight against depression, but dosages above 500 mg, in some people, may cause anxiety, restlessness and rapid heart rate. There are also chances that other neurotransmitters can be formed from this tyrosine. As well as most of the substances are breakdown in periphery before reaching to brain. So efficacy is questionable.

That is why it is not right way to treat the patient.

Instead of dopamine there are lost of drugs affecting serotonin and dopamine level will help.

For your information: There are medicines used for sleepiness and used as wakefulness agent. They are also called stimulants sometime. They increase dopamine levels in the brain by binding to the dopamine transporter and inhibiting dopamine reuptake.

Levodopa is used particularly when there is parkinsonism problem. It is not used in depression.

If I misunderstood your query , please clarify.

Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Chintan Solanki (3 hours later)
So if I get terminated, there are drugs to help raise dopamine levels as quickly as possible?. I cannot go thru PAWS for a year. I won't be able to function. I hope they just used the standard 5-panel test, then I'll be OK. If they use the Gas Chromography test, I'm screwed. I did the right thing in seeking proper alcohol withdrawal monitoring. I don't understand why they wouldn't allow me to take my regular MS Contin. I brought them the pharmacy receipts that even describe the color and shape of the pills. I brought them in a plastic pill organizer to make it easy for them, and they locked it up and substituted methadone because they can't give me a narcotic. SO they gave mea synthetic one. I don't see the logic in that. Now I may lose my pain doctor if they detect Methadone. They gave me 20mg on Friday the 4th, then 15mg, then 10mg, then 5mg on Monday morning. I was released Tuesday. Thursday I get called into my pain specialist office for a random urine (lucky me)... Hope they can't detect it. I drank a lot of cranberry juice and water between Tuesday and Thursday morning. Hopefully it flushed it out. I believe its 72 hours to clean it out and I was right at 72 hours when I gave the urine....
And, If I discuss my past alcohol usage with my pain specialist, it's a violation of the contract I signed. They'll just terminate me as a patient. I'm not drinking anymore, and have no desire to, but as soon as I mention I was drinking in the past on the pain medicine, I'm out !...There's no other doctors around here that prescribe pain meds. And a new doctor will find out why I left the last one. Can't mention my PAST alcohol usage..
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (12 hours later)
Brief Answer:
hope for the best

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for follow up and sorry for delayed response.

First of all if at all result does not come in your favor there will be no acute drop in dopamine level. You may have some acute stress reaction and which is easily manageable with anti anxiety medicines in emergency. And you can be treated for prevention of XXXXXXX depression by a psychiatrist. You just need to approach the doctor. Medicines and psychotherapy both are effective.

I hope result will come in favor of yours. After that you can ask your doctor for pain management.

Do not be anxious and make your self relax. Inhale for 3 seconds, keep breath in for 3 seconds and exhale for 3 seconds. Do it for 10-15 minutes. You will feel relax.

Take care dear.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Chintan Solanki

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 2406 Questions

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How Long Does Methadone Remain In The System For Urine Test?

Brief Answer: levodopa is used in parkinsonism Detailed Answer: Hello, Welcome back. There is no need to tell about drinking otherwise you may be in trouble. Just revert back to me with results. Hope lab will use simple method and you will pass the test. By chance if you cannot, there will be dopamine problem according to you. I guess you want to communicate that you will have depression. Dopamine is derived from tyrosine amino acid. However tyrosine is precursor of many of the substances in body. I have not found any human studies to determine what percentage of this amino acid is converted in L-dopa and doapmine. There is probably a great deal of individual variability. L Tyrosine may help some people in their fight against depression, but dosages above 500 mg, in some people, may cause anxiety, restlessness and rapid heart rate. There are also chances that other neurotransmitters can be formed from this tyrosine. As well as most of the substances are breakdown in periphery before reaching to brain. So efficacy is questionable. That is why it is not right way to treat the patient. Instead of dopamine there are lost of drugs affecting serotonin and dopamine level will help. For your information: There are medicines used for sleepiness and used as wakefulness agent. They are also called stimulants sometime. They increase dopamine levels in the brain by binding to the dopamine transporter and inhibiting dopamine reuptake. Levodopa is used particularly when there is parkinsonism problem. It is not used in depression. If I misunderstood your query , please clarify. Regards, Dr.Chintan Solanki.