What Medications Disqualify You from Donating Blood – Overview
Blood donation has become extremely common and popular today. Many people wish to donate blood in the hopes of helping someone in a life-threatening situation. However, only some people who want to donate blood can do so.
There are several restrictions on the type of people who qualify to donate blood. However, there’s a constant need for healthy blood donors, as people with certain blood disorders need to undergo regular blood transfusions to survive.
In the report of 2019, an estimated 11 million people successfully donated blood in the United States. In addition, the ages 16 to 18 contributed 1.2 million successful blood donations in that particular year.
In this article, we will take a look at what medications disqualify you from donating blood.
Medications That Disqualify You From Donating Blood
Medications Disqualify You From Donating Blood
Here is a list of the different medications that may disqualify you from donating blood:
1 – Acne Medication Related to Isotretinoin
Absorica, Accutane, Sotret, Claravis, Zenatane and Myorisan are all oral medications containing isotretinoin used to treat severe acne. Scientists are aware that these medications can cause congenital disabilities, which is why people using these medications are told to avoid donating blood.
This applies unless you took these medications’ last dose over a month before your donation.
2 – Dutasteride and Finasteride
Propecia and Proscar are brand names for finasteride, which is used to treat symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and premature hair loss in men. As finasteride can cause birth defects in male babies, you will need to wait at least one month from the last dose before you can donate your blood.
Similarly, dutasteride (Avodart) is usually used to treat premature hair loss and BPH in men. If you are on this medication, then you will need to wait at least six months before you can donate blood.
3 – Soriatane (for psoriasis)
Soriatane (acitretin) is normally used to treat psoriasis. If you are taking this medication and want to donate blood, you will need to wait at least 3 YEARS after stopping the medication from doing so. Acitretin medication has the risk of causing severe congenital birth defects and even death of newborn children.
4 – Antiplatelet Medications
Antiplatelet medications, such as aspirin, Effient, etc., do not require you to wait before donating blood. However, they do affect the platelet count in your blood. This is why doctors and health experts recommend waiting at least 2 days from taking aspirin before donating blood.
For Ticlid and Plavix, you will need to wait 14 days from the last dose before donating blood or blood platelets. In contrast, Brilinta and Effient are antiplatelet medications prescribed to people suffering from coronary heart disease.
For such people, waiting at least seven days from the last dose is advisable before donating blood.
5 – Blood Thinners
If you have been prescribed heparin, Coumadin or Arixtra, you cannot donate blood as they cause the blood to clot in an abnormal way. In such situations, you will need to wait at least 7 days from the last dose before you can donate blood.
6 – Growth Hormone Injections
If you are using human pituitary-derived growth hormone, then you are directly disqualified from donating blood.
7 – Aubagio (for multiple sclerosis)
Aubagio medicine is prescribed to treat multiple sclerosis. Scientists are still debating if this medication is the cause of congenital disabilities. However, the Red Cross recommends you wait at least 2 YEARS after the last dose of the drug before you can donate blood.
Conclusion
While over-the-counter homeopathic medications, nutritional supplements, and herbal remedies do not disqualify you from donating blood, it is highly advisable to consult your primary care physician or doctor before you even think of donating your blood.
We hope the above-shared information will help. If you have thoughts to share, please share them in the comment section.
References
https://www.sharecare.com/health/blood-basics/what-medications-prevent-from-donating-blood
https://www.mayoclinic.org/blood-donor-program/faq
See Also
Integrative Medicine Training for Physicians
How to Educate Patients About Medications?
Do Blood Thinners Decrease Blood Pressure?
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