Urine drug screening: A guide to monitoring Tx with controlled substances
Avoid error by ordering the appropriate test at a risk-based frequency. Be alert to sources of false-positives and adulteration. Be careful not to overreact to unexpected results.
PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS
› Consider developing a risk-based urine drug testing protocol for all patients who are on chronic opioid therapy. C
› Consider urine drug testing to augment a thorough history when identifying and offering treatment to patients with a substance use disorder. A
› Do not change your management plan based on results of a single screening urine test. Revisit unexpected positive or negative results with a thorough history or confirmatory testing. A
Strength of recommendation (SOR)
A Good-quality patient-oriented evidence
B Inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence
C Consensus, usual practice, opinion, disease-oriented evidence, case series
Fourth, patient dismissal is rarely an appropriate initial response to UDS results. Regrettably, some physicians misinterpret urine toxicology results and inappropriately discharge patients on that basis.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guideline for prescribing opioids has increased utilization of UDS in primary care settings but does not provide the necessary education on proper use of the tool, which has resulted in a rise in misinterpretation and inappropriate discharge.13,26
If recurrent aberrant behavior is detected (by history or urine toxicology), do not abruptly discontinue the patient’s medication(s). Inform the patient of your concern, taper medication, and refer the patient to addiction treatment. Abrupt discontinuation of an opioid or benzodiazepine can lead to significant harm.1,14
CORRESPONDENCE
John Hayes, DO, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 1121 E North Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53212; jrhayes@mcw.edu
