It can be extremely upsetting to receive a false positive pregnancy test result, especially if youve had trouble getting pregnant or are actively trying to get pregnant (or both). (2017). Addiction: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment., American Association for Clinical Chemistry: Rifampin Interference with Opiate Immunoassays., Drug Enforcement Administration: Dextromethorphan., FDA: Zoloft (sertraline hydrochloride) Label., Journal of Analytical Toxicology: Non-Smoker Exposure to Secondhand Cannabis Smoke. It takes around 7 to 14 days to clear the drug from your system after injection. Methadone, given to treat heroin addiction, can cause a false positive result on urine pregnancy tests, Cigna states. All rights reserved. Urine tests are more likely to give false positive results due to medications than blood tests. One of the fallopian tubes is a common area for an ectopic pregnancy to implant. These results are due to the high amount of white blood cells, red blood cells, and nitrates in your urine. Its important to read and follow the test instructions carefully. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our. See additional information. But this is rare. But more often, certain medications are the cause of a false positive result. If youve been looking forward to a positive pregnancy test result, a false-positive is disappointing. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. But how does this happen? https://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/fertility-medications/, https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682165.html, https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682116.html, https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682040.html, https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682121.html, https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682119.html, https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682867.html, https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682237.html, https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003432.htm, https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682284.html, https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/pregnancy-tests, Antipsychotics often used to treat schizophrenia, such as. Taking the test too early can also result in a false-positive. Use the test when your urine is very concentrated, like when you first wake up in the morning. This is called a false positive. Methadone, given to treat heroin addiction, can cause a false positive result on urine pregnancy tests, Cigna states. Follow up with a blood test will give more accurate results. Mayo Clinic: Home Pregnancy Tests: Can You Trust the Results? The earlier after a missed period that you take a home pregnancy test, the harder it is for the test to detect hCG. Can medications LSD. If you get a positive result you can almost certainly assume you are pregnant, at which point you should visit your GP to confirm the news, and then you can spend the next nine or so months cooking your human child (psst: read up on which celebs are currently expecting).pregnant, at which Some medications can cause a false positive pregnancy test. False Positive pregnancy occurs due to a variety of reasons. Certain decongestants 4. Its every womans worst nightmare: a false positive pregnancy test. Common hMG medications include Menopur, Pergonal, Some reports have also shown that diphenhydramine may turn a drug test positive for PCP. +0. Now, youll enjoy a streamlined experience created specifically for healthcare providers. During pregnancy, the hCG levels continue to rise, in general doubling every few days, and peaking at around 10 weeks. 2023 HealthCheckUp.com. Thats the chemical in the cannabis plant that gets you high. Theyre also common during mental health evaluations. (2006). All rights reserved. Summary: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify false-positive UDSs associated with all clinic formulary medications, as well as common nonprescription Remember that false positives do happen and are not an indication that you cannot become pregnant in the future. GoodRx is not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party brands identified. Home pregnancy tests measure levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone in urine. Some examples include NSAIDs, dextromethorphan, and some antidepressants. Infertility drugs, for example, can contain synthetic hCG. The trazodone metabolite meta-chlorophenylpiperazine can cause false-positive urine amphetamine immunoassay results. All the best, masso. This is important because differenttest measures the levels of HCG in a different way. Why Did a Second Line Appear Later on My Pregnancy Test? For a pregnancy test through blood, you have to visit a clinical setting. You might be surprised by certain symptoms that the first trimester of pregnancy can bring. Your privacy is important to us. Cross-reactivity of pantoprazole with three commercial cannabinoids immunoassays in urine. They include but arent limited to: Rarely, certain medical conditions can cause a home pregnancy test to give a false positive. WebWhat are other conditions that can cause a positive test for hCG aside from pregnancy? There are a few other medications that may rarely cause false positives. Youre elated, youre terrified, youre overjoyed, youre petrified all at the same time. WebWhat can cause a false urine pregnancy test? 1. Syed, H., et al. Trazodone, meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (an hallucinogenic drug and trazodone metabolite), and the hallucinogen trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine cross-react with the EMITII ecstasy immunoassay in urine. Read below to learn more about each of these scenarios. Alcohol and illicit drugs also dont affect pregnancy test results. Tahirah Redhead, MPAS, PA-C, MPH, has reviewed the answers. Many liquid medications, vanilla extract, and breath-cleaning products often have ethanol, a form of simple grain alcohol. Intact hormone, alpha subunit and beta subunits are present in the blood during pregnancy. MA. You can unsubscribe at any time. It is relatively rare but possible to have a false-negative pregnancy test. A chemical pregnancy is a pregnancy, but an unhealthy one that results in an early miscarriage. At-home pregnancy tests arent foolproof. These include: A positive at-home pregnancy test result should always be followed up with a doctors appointment. However, the chance is small. Home pregnancy tests are a common tool used to find out if youre expecting. A false-positive might happen if you had a pregnancy loss soon after the fertilized egg attached to the uterine lining.You also may get a false-positive if you take a pregnancy test soon after taking fertility medicine that contains HCG . The hormone can remain in your blood and urine for up to 6 weeks following the end of the pregnancy. Home pregnancy tests work by detecting the presence of the pregnancy hormone hCG in your urine. Sometimes theyre caused by hormonal levels that dont represent pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency. How Long Until hCG Falls to Zero After Miscarriage? The best way to try and prevent being confused by an evaporation line is to follow the tests timing directions exactly as theyre given. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved. If its an employer-mandated screening. You already know the answer, but you should also know that many other factors can also affect your pregnancy result. If the pregnancy test detects a certain level of hCG, it will show a positive result. For that reason, its recommended you wait until 1 week after you expected your period to start to use an at-home pregnancy test. See your medical professional as soon as possible if you suspect an ectopic pregnancy. Tramadol is an opioid medication that treats pain. What Can Cause a False Pregnancy Test? (1998). The pregnancy test can be done on blood or urine. Thats most likely to happen right after youre exposed to the smoke. Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) are in a group of medications called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs). (1990). American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Available for Android and iOS devices. That can help you track how long the dipstick has been in your urine stream. If youve had a baby recently or a miscarriage, you may test positive for pregnancy. 11 /11. This is called a false-positive. Quinolone antibiotics treat many bacterial infections. Journal of the American Medical Association. Their results are considered reliable, especially when you wait for at least a week after you miss your period to use one. The results of a pregnancy test can be divided into three important categories. Nomier, M.A., et al. Follow up with a blood test will give more accurate results. (2013). Some drug screens may not be specific enough to tell apart sertraline and benzodiazepines. A home pregnancy test checks to see if there's HCG in the urine. Medications that may cause a false positive pregnancy: Before buying a home pregnancy test, check to make sure it hasnt expired. Immunochromatographic tests: False-positive results for methadone and phencyclidine after acute poisoning with tramadol and dextropropoxyphene. The good news is theyre rare. Logan, B.K., et al. That means it's a sign of something elsesomething that is causing irregular bowel movements. A second test would need to confirm it. What Medications Can Cause A False Positive Pregnancy Test? Urinary Tract Infection | False-Positive Pregnancy Test: 7 Possible Ca Just like with job interviews, some employers may require their employees to complete drug tests every so often. Methylphenidate is distinguished from amphetamine in drug-of-abuse testing. If you're experiencing cramping but don't get your period, you might be pregnant. These drugs include Bromocriptine. Evaluations of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine concentrations in human urine samples and a comparison of the specificity of DRI amphetamines and abuscreen online (KIMS) amphetamines screening immunoassays. These five important signs will help you decide. If you've taken a pregnancy test and believe that a negative result is wrong, the best thing to do is wait for at least two days and test again. Patients in medical treatment for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Are they at risk in drug screening?. (2014). False positive results are uncommon on pregnancy tests; false negatives are much more common. (2011). Rengarajan, A., et al. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. If there is a pregnancy, the test will give a positive result and if the test is negative, a negative result is given. The lines are usually a bright color, such as pink, red, or blue. This increases HCG in your body. It is intended for informational purposes only. Baden, L.R., et al. Other medications which may cause a false positive pregnancy test result are progestin-only birth control pills and some antipsychotics, antihistamines, Alikhan M, et al. Its also important to use the test when your urine isnt diluted excessively with water. She also practices and has a devoted lifelong interest in preventive medicine. 2023 Healthline Media LLC. If the miscarriage was spontaneous, its also possible that not all the pregnancy-related tissue was eliminated. Bleeding and pain in early pregnancy need to be evaluated by a medical professional immediately. Note: Since these above mentioned medications affect HCG levels in the urine, it is therefore important to stop taking these medications for a while before taking a pregnancy test. Several conditions may cause a false-positive pregnancy test. During early pregnancy, the amount of HCG in blood and urine rises quickly doubling every If the woman had blood or protein in the urine, Can Ovarian Cancer Be Misdiagnosed As Ovarian Cyst, Understanding Sleep Apnea: Causes & Symptoms for Moms, Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms in Females: Recognizing the Signs and Taking Action, Strategies for Managing Stress and Anxiety Through Therapy, 4 Reasons Why Everyone Should Visit an Orthodontist.