diff --git a/mem0/vector_stores/qdrant.py b/mem0/vector_stores/qdrant.py
index 5bcab11f2..32f60e1f1 100644
--- a/mem0/vector_stores/qdrant.py
+++ b/mem0/vector_stores/qdrant.py
@@ -222,24 +222,28 @@ class Qdrant(VectorStoreBase):
         must_not = []
 
         for key, value in filters.items():
-            if key in ("AND", "OR", "NOT"):
+            # Normalize $or/$not (injected by Memory._process_metadata_filters)
+            # to OR/NOT so they're handled uniformly.
+            normalized_key = {"$or": "OR", "$not": "NOT", "$and": "AND"}.get(key, key)
+
+            if normalized_key in ("AND", "OR", "NOT"):
                 if not isinstance(value, list):
                     raise ValueError(
-                        f"{key} filter value must be a list of filter dicts, "
+                        f"{normalized_key} filter value must be a list of filter dicts, "
                         f"got {type(value).__name__}"
                     )
 
-            if key == "AND":
+            if normalized_key == "AND":
                 for sub in value:
                     built = self._create_filter(sub)
                     if built:
                         must.append(built)
-            elif key == "OR":
+            elif normalized_key == "OR":
                 for sub in value:
                     built = self._create_filter(sub)
                     if built:
                         should.append(built)
-            elif key == "NOT":
+            elif normalized_key == "NOT":
                 for sub in value:
                     built = self._create_filter(sub)
                     if built:
diff --git a/tests/vector_stores/test_qdrant.py b/tests/vector_stores/test_qdrant.py
index 77d6e0085..5913a40af 100644
--- a/tests/vector_stores/test_qdrant.py
+++ b/tests/vector_stores/test_qdrant.py
@@ -670,5 +670,58 @@ class TestQdrantEnhancedFilters(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIsInstance(cond.match, MatchValue)
         self.assertEqual(cond.match.value, "*")
 
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------ #
+    # $or / $not normalization (Memory._process_metadata_filters injects  #
+    # these keys alongside the original OR/NOT)                           #
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------ #
+
+    def test_dollar_or_handled_as_or(self):
+        """$or injected by Memory middleware should be treated as OR."""
+        filters = {
+            "user_id": "alice",
+            "$or": [{"category": "programming"}, {"category": "data"}],
+        }
+        result = self.qdrant._create_filter(filters)
+        self.assertIsInstance(result, Filter)
+        self.assertIsNotNone(result.should)
+        self.assertEqual(len(result.should), 2)
+
+    def test_dollar_not_handled_as_not(self):
+        """$not injected by Memory middleware should be treated as NOT."""
+        filters = {
+            "user_id": "alice",
+            "$not": [{"category": "spam"}],
+        }
+        result = self.qdrant._create_filter(filters)
+        self.assertIsInstance(result, Filter)
+        self.assertIsNotNone(result.must_not)
+        self.assertEqual(len(result.must_not), 1)
+
+    def test_memory_search_or_shape(self):
+        """Simulate exact shape Memory.search() sends for OR filters."""
+        # Memory.search() preserves original OR AND adds $or
+        filters = {
+            "OR": [{"category": "programming"}, {"category": "data"}],
+            "user_id": "test_user",
+            "$or": [{"category": "programming"}, {"category": "data"}],
+        }
+        result = self.qdrant._create_filter(filters)
+        self.assertIsInstance(result, Filter)
+        # OR and $or both contribute to should — duplicates are harmless
+        self.assertIsNotNone(result.should)
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(len(result.should), 2)
+
+    def test_memory_search_not_shape(self):
+        """Simulate exact shape Memory.search() sends for NOT filters."""
+        filters = {
+            "NOT": [{"category": "spam"}],
+            "user_id": "test_user",
+            "$not": [{"category": "spam"}],
+        }
+        result = self.qdrant._create_filter(filters)
+        self.assertIsInstance(result, Filter)
+        self.assertIsNotNone(result.must_not)
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(len(result.must_not), 1)
+
     def tearDown(self):
         del self.qdrant