Medications
Most medications are acceptable for blood donation. Do NOT discontinue medications without consulting your physician.
Medically reviewed on February 1, 2026.
The following are the most common medications and medical conditions that may impact your eligibility to donate:
Antibiotics if taken to treat a current infection
- You must finish the entire course of antibiotics and be free of symptoms before you donate.
- Topical antibiotics for acne and toenail fungus are acceptable
Anticoagulants or “blood thinners,” usually taken to prevent strokes and blood clots in the legs and lungs.
Eligible to donate after 2-day deferral when donating plasma only for:
- Arixtra® also known as fondaparinux
- Eliiquis® also known as apixaban
- Fragmin® also known as dalteparin
- Lovenox® also known as enoxaparin
- Pradaxa® also known as dabigatran
- Savaysa® also known as edoxaban
- Xarelto® also known as rivaroxaban
Eligible to donate after 7-day deferral when donating plasma only for:
- Coumadin® or Jantoven® or Warfilone® (these are also known as warfarin)
Eligible to donate after 7-day deferral for:
- Heparin
Acne treatment
Eligible to donate after 1-month deferral for:
- Absorica® or Accutane® or Amnesteem® or Claravis® or Myorisan® or Sotret® or Zenatane® (these are also known as isotretinoin)
Basal cell skin cancer
Eligible to donate after 2-year deferral for:
- Erivedge® also known as vismodegib
- Odomzo® also known as sonidegib
Hair loss remedy
Eligible to donate after 1-month deferral for:
- Propecia ® or Propecia ProPak® also known as finasteride
Hepatitis exposure
Eligible to donate after 3-month deferral for:
- Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (HBIG)
HIV Prevention
Eligible to donate after 3-month deferral for:
- Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) taken orally
- Descovy® also known as emtricitabine
- Isentress® also known as raltegravir
- Truvada® also known as tenofovir
- Tivicay® also known as dolutegravir
Eligible to donate after 2-year deferral for:
- Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) by injection
- Apretude® also known as cabotegravir
- Yeztugo® also known as lenacapavir
HIV Treatment
You are ineligible to donate if you have ever taken:
- Antiretroviral therapy for HIV
Immunosuppressant
Eligible to donate after 6-week deferral for:
- Cellcept® also known as mycophenolate mofetil
- Myfortic® also known as mycophenolic Acid
Multiple myeloma
Eligible to donate after 1-month deferral for:
- Thalidomid® also known as thalidomide
Multiple sclerosis (relapsing)
Eligible to donate after 2-year deferral for:
- Aubagio® also known as teriflunomide
Prostate symptoms
Eligible to donate after 6-month deferral for:
- Avodart® or Jalyn® (these are also known as dutasteride)
Eligible to donate after 1-month deferral for:
- Proscar® also known as finasteride
Psoriasis
Eligible to donate after 3-year deferral for:
- Soriatane® also known as acitretin
You are not eligible to donate if you have taken:
- Tegison® also known as etretinate
Rheumatoid arthritis
Eligible to donate after 2-year deferral for:
- Arava® also known as leflunomide
Eligible to donate after 1-month deferral for:
- Rinvoq® also known as Upadacitinib
Medications Summary
Eligible to donate after 2-day deferral when donating plasma for:
- Apixaban (Eliquis®)
- Dabigatran (Pradaxa®)
- Dalteparin (Fragmin®)
- Enoxaparin (Lovenox®)
- Edoxaban (Savaysa®)
- Fondaparinux (Arixtra®)
- Rivaroxaban (Xarelto®)
Eligible to donate after 7-day deferral for:
- Heparin
- Warfarin (Coumadin® or Jantoven® or Warfilone®) for plasma donations only
Eligible to donate after 1-month deferral for:
- Finasteride (Proscar® or Propecia ® or Propecia ProPak®)
- Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (HBIG)
- Isotretinoin (Absorica® or Accutane® or Amnesteem® or Claravis® or Myorisan® or Sotret® or Zenatane®)
- Thalidomide (Thalidomid®)
- Upadacitinib (Rinvoq®)
Eligible to donate after 6-week deferral for:
- Mycophenolate mofetil (Cellcept®)
- Mycophenolic Acid (Myfortic)
Eligible to donate after 3-month deferral for:
- Dolutegravir (Tivicay®)
- Emtricitabine (Descovy®)
- Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) taken orally
- Raltegravir (Isentress®)
- Tenofovir, emtricitabine, dolutegravir or raltegravir (Truvada®)
Eligible to donate after 6-month deferral for:
- Dutasteride (Avodart® or Jalyn®)
Eligible to donate after 2-year deferral for:
- Cabotegravir (Apretude®)
- Leflunomide (Arava®)
- Lenacapavir (Yeztugo®)
- Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) by injection (Apretude®)
- Sonidegib (Odomzo®)
- Teriflunomide (Aubagio®)
- Vismodegib (Erivedge®)
Eligible to donate after 3-year deferral for:
- Acitretin (Soriatane ®)
You are not eligible to donate if you have taken:
- Antiretroviral therapy for HIV
- Etretinate (Tegison®)
If your condition is not listed, or if you have questions regarding your eligibility to donate blood based on your specific diagnosis, contact Donor Notification at 817-412-5603 or DN@carterbloodcare.org.
Do not stop taking medications prescribed or recommended by your physician in order to donate blood.