Medications

The following are the most common medications that cause a deferral:

Antibiotics for treatment of current infection

• The infection is the risk, not the medication.  You must finish the entire dose of antibiotic and be free of symptoms before you can donate.
• Topical (surface) treatments are acceptable (such as acne or toenail fungus).

There is a two-day deferral when donating plasma for:

• Fondaparinux (Arixtra®)
• Apixaban (Eliquis®)
• Dalteparin (Fragmin®)
• Enoxaparin (Lovenox®)
• Dabigatran (Pradaxa®)
• Edoxaban (Savaysa®)
• Rivaroxaban (Xarelto®)

There is no deferral time for other donation types for the items listed above.

There is a seven-day deferral for:

• Heparin
• Warfarin (Coumadin® or Jantoven® or Warfilone®) for plasma donations only

There is a one-month deferral for:

• Finasteride (Proscar® or Propecia ® or Propecia ProPak®)
• Isotretinoin (Absorica® or Accutane® or Amnesteem® or Claravis® or Myorisan® or Sotret® or Zenatane®)
• Thalidomide (Thalidomid®)
• Upadacitinib (Rinvoq®)

There is a six-week deferral for:

• Mycophenolate mofetil (Cellcept®)
• Mycophenolic Acid (Myfortic)

There is a three-month deferral for:

• Tenofovir, emtricitabine, dolutegravir or raltegravir (Truvada®, Descovy®, Tivicay® or Isentress®)
• Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) taken orally

There is a six-month deferral for:

• Dutasteride (Avodart® or Jalyn®)

There is a 12-month deferral for:

• Hepatitis B Immune Globulin

There is a two-year deferral for:

• Teriflunomide (Aubagio®)
• Vismodegib (Erivedge®)
• Sonidegib (Edomzo®)
• Leflunomide (Arava®)
• Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) by injection (Apretude®)

There is a three-year deferral for:

• Acitretin (Soriatane ®)

You are not eligible to donate if you have taken:

• Etretinate (Tegison®)
• Antiretroviral therapy for HIV

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.