Medicine Deferral List

In an effort to make medical deferral information more easily accessible, we have put together this post listing all the medical deferrals that are currently in place.

These deferrals are first categorized by what they do, then by their medical and market name, then by the deferral time.

If you need help with learning more about these deferrals, please reach out to us by phone at 661-323-4222.

A Note About Medications

**DO NOT STOP taking medications prescribed by your doctor in order to donate blood.**

Donating while taking these drugs could have a negative effect on your health or on the health of the recipient of your blood.

Before donating, please tell us if you are being treated with the following types of medications or have taken:

How to Find Your Medication

You can hit the keyboard key “ctrl + f” to bring up an on-page search bar.

Type the name of your medication and if it is on the deferral list, it will be highlighted in yellow

Blood Donor Medicine Deferral List

• Anti-platelet agents (usually taken to prevent stroke or heart attack)
  • Feldene (piroxicam) – wait 2 days after last dose
  • Effient (prasugrel) – wait 3 days after last dose
  • Brilinta (ticagrelor) – wait 7 days after last dose
  • Plavix (clopidogrel) – wait 14 days after last dose
  • Ticlid (ticlopidine) – wait 14 days after last dose
  • Zontivity (vorapaxar) – wait 1 month after last dose
• Anticoagulants or “blood thinners” (usually to prevent blood clots in the legs and lungs and to prevent strokes)
  • Xarelto (rivaroxaban) – wait 2 days after last dose
  • Fragmin (dabigatran) – wait 2 days after last dose
  • Lovenox (enoxaparin) – wait 2 days after last dose
  • Pradaxa (dabigatran) – wait 2 days after last dose
  • Eliquis (apixaban) – wait 2 days after last dose
  • Savaysa (edoxaban) – wait 2 days after last dose
  • Arixtra (fondaparinux) – wait 2 days after last dose
  • Coumadin, warfilone, jantoven (warfarin) – wait 7 days after last dose
  • Heparin, low molecular weight heparin (warfarin) – wait 7 days after last dose

• Acne Treatment
  • Accutane, amnesteem, absorica, claravis, myorisan, sotret, and zenatane (isotretinoin) – wait 1 month after last dose
• Multiple myeloma 
  • Thalomid (thalidomide) – wait 1 month after last dose
• Hair loss remedy 
  • Propecia (finasteride) – wait 1 month after last dose
• Prostate symptoms
  • Proscar (finasteride) – wait 1 month after last dose
  • Avodart (dutasteride) – wait 6 months after last dose
  • Jalyn (dutasteride) – wait 6 months after last dose
• Basal Cell Skin Cancer
  • Erivedge (vismodegib) – wait 24 months after last dose
  • Odomzo (sonidegib) – wait 24 months after last dose
  • Aldara (imiquimod) –  wait 2 months after last dose
• COVID Monoclonal Antibody Therapy or Antiviral medication – 3 month deferral
• Other COVID-19 medications – 3 month deferral
  • Eamlanivimab
  • Etesevimab
  • Casirivimab
  • Imdevimab
  • Remdesivir (Another name is Regeneron)
• Relapsing multiple sclerosis 
  • Aubagio (teriflunomide) – wait 24 months after last dose
• Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Arava (leflunomide) – wait 24 months after last dose
  • Rinvoq (upadacitinib) – wait 1 month after last dose
• Psoriasis 
  • Soriatane (acitretin) – wait 36 months after last dose
  • Tegison (etretinate) – not eligible
• Hepatitis exposure
  • Hepatitis B Immune/Globulin (HBIG) – wait 12 months after last dose
• HIV Prevention – Wait 4 months after last dose for the following:
  • Truvada
  • Descovy 
  • Tivicay (dolutegravir)
  • Isentress (raltegravir)
• HIV Therapy 
  • Antiretroviral – permanent deferral
• Experimental Medication or Unlicensed (Experimental) Vaccine – wait 12 months
• Growth hormone from human pituitary glands – not eligible
• Insulin from Cows (Bovine or Beef Insulin) manufactured in the United Kingdom – not eligible
• Immunosuppressant or Other Medications (These medications can be used to treat cancers, auto-immune disorders, or organ transplant anti-rejection).
• Wait 3 months after last dose for the following:
  • Orencia (abatacept)
  • Xeljanz (tofacitinib citrate)
  • Enbrel (etanercept)
  • Remicade (infliximab)
  • Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine)
  • Humira (adalimumab)
  • Cellcept (mycophenolate mofetil)
  • Cosentyx (secukinumab)
  • Otezla (apremilast)
  • Imuran/Azasan (azathioprine)
  • Rheumatrex, trexall, otrexup, rasuvo (methotrexate)
  • Prolia, Xgeva (denosumab)
  • Purixan, Purinethol (mercaptopurine)

If medication is not listed, please contact us here.

Scheduling Your Donation

If you are clear to donate, you can schedule your next blood, platelet, or plasma donation by clicking here