Medication and medical devices
Most medications don’t affect whether you can donate, but some do. See if yours might affect your ability to donate.
Yes, unless you’re donating platelets. Nurofen, Voltaren, or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) don’t generally affect your ability to donate blood or plasma, but you’ll need to wait a few days to give platelets. It’s a good idea to check the reason you’re taking it, too. If it’s for something else, check our list of medical conditions…
Read MoreYou can still donate. Panadol, Tylenol and other paracetamols don’t affect whether you can donate. You should also double check whether the reason you’re taking it affects donation. If it’s a bit of a headache, you should be good to go — but if it’s something else, check our list of medical conditions here.
Can’t find it?…
Read MoreYes, as long as your thyroid hormone levels are back to normal. Otherwise, you’ll just need to wait until they are.
Probably. Like most medications, it depends on a few things — particularly what the underlying condition is and how recently you took the anti-coagulant or anti-platelet drug.
The easiest way to find out is to give us a call on 13 14 95 and ask to speak to a Medical Professional.
It depends on which type you’re using and why you’re using it. If it’s inhaled steroids for mild asthma or topical steroids (cream/ointment) for mild eczema, you should be able to donate. If you’re taking oral steroids (tablets) or it’s for any other reason, like more severe asthma or eczema, allergies, arthritis, or lupus, you’ll need to speak to a Medical Professional to double check. You…
Read MoreYes! Common medications including aspirin don’t generally affect your ability to donate, but you’ll need to wait a few days to donate platelets after taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug like aspirin. It’s also best to double check the reason you’re taking it. If it’s just a mild headache, you should be good to go — but if it’s something else, check our list of medical conditions…
Read MoreIf your medication was prescribed by a doctor registered in Australia, you can donate.
In some cases, testosterone may cause your haemoglobin levels (a protein in your blood that transports oxygen) to increase to above the acceptable range for donation. Don’t worry, though — we test your haemoglobin level before each donation and if it’s within the acceptable range on the day, you can…
Read MoreYes, providing your blood pressure is adequately controlled, stable, and you don’t have any side effects related to your medication.
Maybe. It depends on why you’re taking the antibiotics.
- Recent infection: The infection must have resolved at least one week ago and you need to have completed the full course of antibiotics five days before you donate.
- Preventative antibiotics for mild acne or rosacea (minocycline, doxycycline or erythromycin): You’re eligible to…
It depends on the type of vaccine.
These vaccines don't include any live material and you can donate straight away after having one.
- Diphtheria
- Influenza (both seasonal flu and H1N1 or 'swine' flu)
- Hepatitis A
- Meningococcus
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Pneumococcus
- Q fever
- Tetanus …
Yes, but when you can donate depends on the type of hepatitis vaccination you've had.
Hepatitis B vaccine: You’ll need to wait two weeks before you donate. This also applies for combined hepatitis A and B vaccines.
Hepatitis A vaccine: It’s okay to donate straight away.
Usually, yes, but you’ll need to wait six months after getting your pacemaker. Please contact us to double check if you can donate.
Most prescribed medicines don’t prevent you from donating, but the medical condition they’re prescribed for might.
You can’t donate while you’re taking any of the following medications and for a period of time after you’ve finished:
| Medication | Known as | Period you'll have to wait after taking |
|---|---|---|
| … |
Yes, you can donate. Taking hormone replacement therapy doesn’t affect your ability to donate blood.
Yes. Having an injection (e.g. DepoProvera®) or implant (e.g. Implanon®, IUD) inserted for birth control doesn’t affect whether you can donate, as long as there are no complications from the procedure.
Yes. Taking birth control pills (oral contraceptives or ‘the pill’) doesn’t affect your ability to donate blood at all.
Usually, yes. If you take cholesterol-lowering medication prescribed to prevent coronary artery disease, you can still give blood. If you have existing coronary artery disease, please contact us to speak to a medical professional about it.
Usually yes, as long as you’re well and have no side effects from the medication. This includes Endep, Cipramil, Dothep, Lexapro, Lovan, Avanza, Aropax, Edronax, Eleva, and Efexor. If you’re taking something else or aren’t sure about your side effects, confirm if you can donate by contacting us.
