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What Causes False Positive For Tetrahydrocannabinol While On Plaquenil?
ok..i have been reading things on the internet ..questions as well as answers..and although I know that my DR as well as pharmacist is telling me that Plaquenil will not cause a false/positive drug test I am having an issue that I have never had a positive test before until I started this Med..I have had 3 positives for THC.
Tue, 18 Apr 2023
Hi,
Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) is a medication that is commonly used to treat autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. It is not known to cause a false positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in drug tests.
However, there are some possible explanations for why someone taking Plaquenil might test positive for THC:
- Cross-reactivity: Some drug tests may cross-react with other substances, leading to a false positive result. A drug test may cross-react with Plaquenil or one of its metabolites, leading to a false positive for THC.
- Contamination: It is possible that the drug test sample was contaminated with THC, either from secondhand smoke or from other environmental factors.
- Recent marijuana use: If you have used marijuana recently, even if it was days or weeks ago, it is possible that residual THC could still be detected in your system.
If you have been taking Plaquenil as prescribed and have not used marijuana recently, it is unlikely that the medication is causing a false positive for THC. However, if you continue to test positive, you may want to speak with your healthcare provider or the lab performing the drug test to investigate the cause further.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Priyanka, General & Family Physician
Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) is a medication that is commonly used to treat autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. It is not known to cause a false positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in drug tests.
However, there are some possible explanations for why someone taking Plaquenil might test positive for THC:
- Cross-reactivity: Some drug tests may cross-react with other substances, leading to a false positive result. A drug test may cross-react with Plaquenil or one of its metabolites, leading to a false positive for THC.
- Contamination: It is possible that the drug test sample was contaminated with THC, either from secondhand smoke or from other environmental factors.
- Recent marijuana use: If you have used marijuana recently, even if it was days or weeks ago, it is possible that residual THC could still be detected in your system.
If you have been taking Plaquenil as prescribed and have not used marijuana recently, it is unlikely that the medication is causing a false positive for THC. However, if you continue to test positive, you may want to speak with your healthcare provider or the lab performing the drug test to investigate the cause further.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Priyanka, General & Family Physician
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