Medications with deferral periods
If you are taking any of these medications you will be deferred whilst taking the medication and for a certain time afterwards to ensure it does not remain in your blood.
Please refer to the list below, but if any medicine you are taking is not listed, please speak to a nurse at one of our blood donor centres.
| Medication | Deferral period |
|---|---|
| Accure | 1 month |
| Acitretin | 3 years |
| Adapalene | 1 month |
| Aldactone | According to the condition |
| Amiodarone | Discuss with Staff |
| Anginine | Permanently unable to donate |
| Antibiotics | 1 week after completing the treatment and fully recovered |
| Anti-inflammatory medicines | Accept for whole blood but 3 days for special platelet donations |
| Antivenom | 90 days |
| Anturan for acute gout | Defer |
| Aratac | Discuss with Staff |
| Aspec | Discuss with Staff |
| Azamun | Discuss with Staff |
| Azathioprine | Discuss with Staff |
| Azol | 3 months |
| Benemid Acute gout | Defer |
| Benhex | Defer if skin inflamed, itchy or used as a prophylactic (preventive) treatment |
| Benserazide | Permanently unable to donate |
| Benzene Hexachloride | Defer if skin inflamed, itchy or used prophylactically |
| Benztropine | Permanently unable to donate if used for Parkinsonism |
| Betamethansone | 4 weeks IV injection for acute illness and tablets |
| Bismuth subnitrate | 7 days |
| Botox | 6 months |
| Botulinum Toxin | 6 months |
| Bromocriptine | If used for Parkinson’s Disease |
| Carbimazole | Permanently unable to donate |
| Cardiprin | Discuss with Staff |
| Cartia | Discuss with Staff |
| Carvasin | Discuss with Staff |
| Cialis | 4 days |
| Clomid | 3 months |
| Clomiphene Citrate | 3 months |
| Codral forte | Discus with Staff |
| Cogentin | Permanently unable to donate if used for Parkinsonism |
| Cordarone | Discuss with Staff |
| Cordarone X | Discuss with Staff |
| Coronex | Discuss with Staff |
| Corticosteroids Injection IV for acute illness/joint infection/tablets | 4 weeks |
| Cortisone | Discuss with Staff |
| Crotamiton | Defer if skin inflamed, itchy or used prophylactically |
| Cyanocobalamin | Permanently unable to donate if for treatment of Pernicious anaemia |
| Coumadin, Warfarin | 6 months |
| Cyclosporin | 4 weeks (but the underlying condition treated may exclude) |
| Cytamen | Discuss with Staff |
| Danazol | 3 months |
| Danocine, D-Zol | 3 months |
| Daraprim | Before travel plasma only for fractionation, after travel to risk area plasma only 1 year |
| Derbac-M | Defer if inflamed or itchy skin |
| Decadron | Defer until well |
| Dexamethasone Injection IV for acute illness/joint infection/tablets | 4 weeks |
| Differen | 1 month |
| Digoxin | Permanently unable to donate |
| Dindevan | 6 months |
| Diphenoxylate | Defer |
| Dipyridamole | Collect as red cells/plasma only 3 days (not suitable for platelets) |
| Disipal | Permanently unable to donate if used for Parkinsonism |
| Disopyramide | Permanently unable to donate |
| Dispirin | Discuss with Staff |
| Doryx | Discuss with Staff |
| Doxine | Discuss with Staff |
| Doxy-50/100 | Discuss with Staff |
| Doxyclycline | Discuss with Staff |
| D-Penamine | Permanently unable to donate |
| D-Zol | 3 months |
| Ecotrin | Collect as red cells/plasma only 3 days (not suitable for platelets) |
| Efudix | 7 days |
| Eldepryl | Permanently unable to donate if used for Parkinsonism |
| Encephalitis (Japanese Vaccine) | 3 weeks |
| Endone | Defer while in use |
| Engeris-B | 1 year if given for exposure |
| Estroxyn | Permanently unable to donate |
| Etretinate | Permanently unable to donate |
| Eurax | Defer if inflamed or itchy skin or used prophylactically |
| Famciclovir | 7 days |
| Famvir | 7 days |
| Fansidar | Discuss with Staff |
| Fergon | Discuss with Staff |
| Ferrograd Folic | Discuss with Staff |
| Ferrous Gluconate | Discuss with Staff |
| Ferrous Sulphate | Discuss with Staff |
| Ferrum H | Discuss with Staff |
| Finasteride | 1 month |
| Flagyl | 7 days |
| Flecainide | Permanently unable to donate |
| Florinef | 4 weeks |
| Fludrocortisone | 4 weeks |
| Fluorouracil | 7 days |
| Genox | Permanently unable to donate |
| Glyceryl trinitrate | Permanently unable to donate |
| Gold injections | Permanently unable to donate |
| Growth Hormone | If manufactured from human growth hormone, Permanently unable to donate |
| GTN | Permanently unable to donate |
| Gyno-Daktarin | 7 days |
| Havrix | 42 days if given for exposure |
| H-B-Vax 11 | 1 year if given for exposure |
| Hepatitis A Vaccine | 42 days if given for exposure |
| Hexamine | 7 days |
| Hiprex | 7 days |
| Human Pituitary Gonadotrophin | Permanently unable to donate |
| Hydrocortisone | Discuss with Staff |
| Hydroxychloroquine | Before travel plasma only for fractionation, after travel to risk area plasma only 1 year |
| Hydroxyethylrutosides | Discuss with Staff |
| Ikorel, Imdur | Permanently unable to donate |
| Imodium | Discuss with Staff |
| Imtrate | Discuss with Staff |
| Imuran | 4 weeks but the underlying condition may exclude |
| Infertility Treatment | Permanently unable to donate if human pituitary gonadotrophin used |
| Interferon L and P | Permanently unable to donate |
| Iron & Folic Acid | Discuss with Staff |
| Ismo 20 | Discuss with Staff |
| Isosorbide Monotrate | Discuss with Staff |
| Isosorbide Dinitrate | Permanently unable to donate |
| Isotretinoin | 1 month |
| Isotrex Gel | 1 month |
| Lanoxin, Digoxin | Permanently unable to donate |
| Live vaccines | 4 weeks for most but 8 weeks for Rubella vaccine (German measles) |
| Kemadrin | Permanently unable to donate if used for Parkinsonism |
| Lamivudine | Permanently unable to donate |
| Lanoxin | Permanently unable to donate |
| Lariam | Discuss with Staff |
| Ledertrexate | Defer while in use but the underlying condition may exclude |
| Lerodopa | Permanently unable to donate if used for Parkinsonism |
| Levodopa & Carbidopa | Permanently unable to donate |
| Liothyronine | Discuss with Staff |
| Lithicarb | Discuss with Staff |
| Lithium Carbonate | Discuss with Staff |
| Loperamide | Discuss with Staff |
| Lyderm | Defer if inflamed or itchy skin or used prophylactically |
| Madopar | Permanently unable to donate if used for Parkinsonism |
| Malathion | Defer if inflamed or itchy skin or used prophylactically |
| Marevan | While in use or 6 months |
| Maxidex, Maxitriol | 4 weeks |
| Mebendzole | Until recovered |
| Mefloquine | Before travel plasma only, after travel to risk area plasma only 1 year |
| Merieux Inactivated Rabies | 1 year |
| Methoblastin | Discuss with Staff |
| Methotrexate, Ledertrexate | Defer while in use but the underlying condition may exclude |
| Methoxsalen | 1 week |
| Mexiletine | Discuss with Staff |
| Mexitil | Discuss with Staff |
| Miconazole | 1 week |
| Micreme | 1 week |
| Minirin | Discuss with Staff |
| Ministran | Discuss with Staff |
| Motilium | Discuss with Staff |
| Nalidixic Acid | 7 days |
| Negram | 7 days |
| Neo-Mercazole | Permanently unable to donate |
| Neotigason | 3 years |
| Nicorandil | Discuss with Staff |
| Nifuran | 7 days |
| Nitoman | Discuss with Staff |
| Nitradisc | Discuss with Staff |
| Nitro-Bd Ointment | Discuss with Staff |
| Nolvadex | Permanently unable to donate |
| Norfloxacin | 7 days |
| Noroxin | 7 days |
| Norpace | Permanently unable to donate |
| Novadex | Permanently unable to donate |
| Oxsoralen | 1 week |
| Oxypentifylline (Pentoxifylline) | Discuss with Staff |
| Paludrine | Plasma only for 1 year after travel to risk area |
| Parlodel | Discuss with Staff |
| Paroven | Discuss with Staff |
| Penicillamine | Permanently unable to donate |
| Permethrin | Defer if inflamed or itchy skin or used prophylactically |
| Pernexiline | Discuss with Staff |
| Persantin | Discuss with Staff |
| Pexid | Discuss with Staff |
| Pirophen | Collect as red cells/plasma only 3 days (not for platelets) |
| Plaquenil | Before travel plasma only 3 years, after travel to risk area plasma only for fractionation 1 year |
| Ponstan | Collect as red cells/plasma only 3 days (not for platelets) |
| Prednisolone | 4 weeks |
| Procainamide | Permanently unable to donate |
| Proguanil | After travel to risk area plasma only 1 year |
| Prodalone | Defer while in use |
| Pronestyl | Permanently unable to donate |
| Propecia | 1 month |
| Propanolol | Discuss with Staff |
| Propylthiouracil | Permanently unable to donate |
| Proscar | 1 month |
| Pseudoephedrine & others | Discuss with Staff |
| Pyrimethamine | Before travel plasma only for fractionation, after travel to risk area plasma only for 1 year |
| Quinidine | Discuss with Staff |
| Quinine | 3 days |
| Rabies Vaccine | 1 year if given for exposure |
| Retin-A | 1 month |
| Rh (D) Immunoglobulin | Discuss with Staff |
| Ridaura | Permanently unable to donate |
| Roaccutane | 1 month |
| Rythmodan | Permanently unable to donate |
| Salazopyrin | Permanently unable to donate |
| Sandimmun | 4 weeks |
| Selegiline | Permanently unable to donate if used for Parkinsonism |
| Sildenafil | 24 hours |
| Sinemet | Permanently unable to donate if used for Parkinsonism |
| Smallpox vaccine | 8 weeks |
| Solprin | Collect as red cells/plasma only 3 days (not for platelets) |
| Sotalol | Permanently unable to donate |
| Sotocor | Permanently unable to donate |
| Spironalactone | Discuss with Staff |
| Spirotone | Discuss with Staff |
| Spren | Collect as red cells/plasma only 3 days (not for platelets) |
| SPZ | If for acute gout |
| Steroids | Discuss with Staff |
| Sulfadoxine | Discuss with Staff |
| Sulfinpyrazone | If for acute gout |
| Tadalofil | 96 hours |
| Tambocor | Permanently unable to donate |
| Tamofen | Permanently unable to donate |
| Tamoxifen | Permanently unable to donate |
| Tasmar | Permanently unable to donate |
| Tertroxin | Discuss with Staff |
| Thioprine | 4 weeks |
| Ticlid | Discuss with Staff |
| Ticlopidine | Discuss with Staff |
| Tigason | Permanently unable to donate |
| Tolcapone | Permanently unable to donate |
| Trental 400 | Discuss with Staff |
| Tretinoin | 1 month |
| Triamcinolone | 4 weeks |
| Trinitrate | Discuss with Staff |
| Trioxsalen | 1 month |
| Tripolidine | Discuss with Staff |
| Trisoralen | 1 month |
| Twinrix | Discuss with Staff |
| Valaciclovir | 7 days |
| Valtrex | 7 days |
| Vermox | Defer until recovered |
| Viagra | 24 hours |
| Viagra – weekend pill | 72 hours |
| Zovirax Ophthalmic Ointment | Defer while in use |
