Prescription meds

FYI tramadol is not an opiate, it is synthetic. Therefore it will not show positive as an opiate.

 

I hate to tell you this but there are MANY synthetic opiates out there. Just to name a few, Lortab, Demerol, Fentanyl, Norco, Atarax, Methadone, Oxycodone, Oxymorphone. Of course there are many more and all you have to do is a simple search for synthetic opiates.

 

Well, wouldn't ya know... another know it all truck driver!

An opiate is a drug derived from the poppy plant. A synthetic is man made. A quick Google search would tell you that tramadol is non narcotic and not a opiate.

Here's the definition of opiate as used in the medical world.

In medicine, the term opiate describes any of the narcotic opioid alkaloids found as natural products in the opium poppy plant, Papaver somniferum.

 

With these new Medical Card requirements as to only using certain registered doctors, things may tighten up even more.
And to all of you people getting your CDL's, ask questions about drug usage, criminal record, driving history problems BEFORE you spend lots of time and money getting qualified, only to find out even though the law may allow it, all insurance companies and trucking outfits have rules and guidelines that are often quite tougher than the Federal regulations for getting a CDL.

 

A degenerative disc? Have you ever driven a truck for hours on end to know how your degenerative disc is going to react to the constant bouncing, jarring, and stiffness from remaining seated for long hours? I do not have back problems and some nights my back gets pretty sore from running the wonderfully maintained highways I get to run on. Trucks do not ride like cars and depending on what roads you drive crappy road maintenance could make the ride even worse.

 

Well, wouldn't ya know... another that can't read.

Look up your own reference. Or better yet take a glace at the dictionary. Wikipedia lists tramadol as a opioid analgesic. In the trucking industry the DOT drug test will look for Opiate Metabolites as per FMCSR 40.85. That's not being a know-it-all it's just plain common sense. So you might want to pick up that little green handbook when you get a chance and you'll see all kinds of rules and regulations for trucks and drivers.

 

Go take the test, if you are taking pills by the handful you will not pass. If you are taking pain relievers as prescribed you will either pass, or you will get a phone call from the clinic asking you who the prescribing DR is, and after they call the DR then you will pass.
You don't need to take your prescriptions with you, and you don't need to call companies to see what they think, since this is not a pre-hire urine test, it is a DOT urine test. Keep a copy of your prescription on you at all times when you are on the road!

 

i take 200 to 300 mg of tramadol a day and it has never shown up on a DOT 5 panel test, have had 3 DOT test in the last 18 months, i also had a 10 panel test for my other job 6 weeks ago and tramadol did not show up.
i was worried about taking any pain meds because of the cdl and my doctor prescribe tramadol for that reason.

 

So seeing you have taken 3 tests in 18 months, I am going to assume that you have re done your med card within that time period, did you disclose to your doctor that you were taking tramadol at your physical, and if you did not, how come if your not worried about it?