Clinical Trends for April 2016

Clinical Trend of the Week (March 26 - April 1): Ranitidine False Positive

Sometimes, new studies filled with information prompt an increase in searches. Other times, misinformation is the driving cause. This week’s top search term seems to have been triggered by a social media post that caught the attention of many. The rumor-exposing site, Snopes.com, describes a Facebook post where a false-positive for methamphetamine use was attributed to ranitidine (Zantac). In examining the claim, the Snopes writer contacted a local pharmacy, a toxicology expert at Ammon Analytical Laboratory, and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, the makers of Zantac. They found nothing to substantiate the Facebook post’s claim. However, they did identify a small 1991 study that mentioned some potential for false positives on urine tests. The ultimate conclusion is that, even if ranitidine has a small chance of triggering a false positive, it is by no means a common occurrence, and patients taking the medication should feel comfortable using it.

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Cite this: Ryan Syrek. Clinical Trends for April 2016 - Medscape - Apr 01, 2016.