I just tested positive for opiates, and all I take is tramadol, why is this?

Tramadol isn't exactly an opiate as it is not derived from opium poppies. It is synthetic, but chemically it is very similar to the opiates.

Because tramadol is an opium derivative.

tramadol is a narcotic, it is derived from opiates, so of course you would test positive. If you have a prescription for Tramadol then there should be no problem with an employer.

Just make sure you have a valid prescription for what you take and listed it when you took the test.

opiates are easy to trigger... cough medicine can do it... tramadol is made from opiates... methadone and things like that trigger pretty low too

who tested you and why? need more information before i can answer the question. thanks.

it is a false positive screen. The lab must not have done a confirmation test to identify the opiate. tramadol is a synthetic opioid and could cross react with a screening test but a confirmation test would be negative for all opiates.

a confirmation test by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (gcms) would be necessary to show no opiates.

Tell them to send to lab and do confirmation. Many doctors offices dont have the equipment to do this.

Ms. Nurse you should know that Tramadol (also known as ultlam and ultracet) is NOT an opiate but works on the same receptors in the brain as opiates do.