Question about donating blood

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Can I donate blood if I take wellbutrin and just finished a round of antibiotics? If this counts as asking for medical advice, then of course I withdraw the question.

I have an appt tomorrow, and I just realized this could be an issue. It's too late now for me to call the red cross or the person organizing the drive.

Thanks to anyone who can help.

Specializes in onc, M/S, hospice, nursing informatics.

See the Red Cross website:

http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/0,1082,0_557_,00.html

Doesn't seem like medical advice to me, but I could be entirely wrong.

Here's some info on antibiotic use from the redcross.org: http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/0,1082,0_557_,00.html#ant

"Antibiotics

A donor with an infection should not donate. The reason for antibiotic use must be evaluated to determine if the donor has a bacterial infection that could be transmissible by blood. Acceptable after finishing oral antibiotics for an infection (bacterial or viral). Acceptable 7 days after an antibiotic injection for an infection. Acceptable if you are taking antibiotics to prevent an infection, for example, following dental procedures or for acne. Antibiotics for acne do not disqualify you from donating. If you have a temperature above 99.5 F, you may not donate."

I don't think Wellbutrin is an issue -- I know I have donated blood while on another antidepressant, and there is no mention of antidepressants on the site.

Worst case scenario... you show up, wait a bit, aren't elegible and have to go home -- they won't be mad - it happens all the time.

Kangaroo

I donated this last weekend and was amazed at the criteria for giving blood.

Definitely tell them during screening and error on the side of caution.

Specializes in ltc and med surg.

I was turned away once because I had recently been on antibiotics. They told me to come back in like ten days or something I don't remember how long the wait was.

I use to donate faithfully. I was turned away often for low hct and once for an elevated pulse of 104... during which time my B/P was 90/50... I can't believe THAT didn't disqualify me! Now I am banned for life because I lived for 4 months in England during the mid 1980's.

Thanks for all the info! I checked the Red Cross website. I'm really embarassed that I didn't think of that before I posed the question here.

No mention of wellbutrin in the list of contraindicated meds, and I stop the antibiotic this morning (it was for a spider bite that got nasty), so I'm going to try and donate tomorrow.

Thanks again!

Specializes in ER, Occupational Health, Cardiology.

Wellbutrin is okay, but you have to be off the antibiotic for a specified length of time before they'll let you donate.

Specializes in Med-Surg, , Home health, Education.

I was turned down about a month ago because I had been on antibiotics for a dental infection. Actually that wasn't even one of the questions asked but I did mention it. They said I had to be off the antibiotics for 48 hours before I could give. There shouldn't be a problem with Wellbutrin

Well, I went to donate today, and was ruled out for a year anyway...I had washed blood out of my brother's hair and off his neck/shoulders after a particularly messy central line procedure a few months ago. I didn't wear gloves, just washed with surgical scrub as I always do before I touch him, as he's immunosupressed. Nurse was in the room and didn't mention wearing gloves. I had not started school yet, so I wasn't as mindful about these things.

Anyway, since I could not say with certainty that I had no little cuts scratches, hangnails, etc. at the time, they told me to wait until at lease 12 months from the time that happened.

Oh well. :o

I am a nurse for the ARC blood services. As long as you have taken your last dose of atb you are fine to donate. As for wellbutrin, that isn't a problem. There are only a few medicines that have a long deferral period.

Thank you for donating!! Our supplies get really low in the summer! Very few people who are able actually donate and when people get busy in the summer that number drops even more!

So thank you!

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