Community Forum Archive

The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.

Not allowed to donate blood

Fri, 07/14/2006 - 11:38
Aw man, this SUCKS!! I was all set to go donate blood with my husband at lunch. I even didn't take a lunch break so I could have a full hour to do what I needed to do. I'm not allowed to donate blood!!!!!! Why? Becuase I'm on meds. Apparently even though I've never had a convulsive seizure, the fact that I'm on an AED disqualifies me, since it changes my blood level, thus affecting how my body metabolizes my aeds. >. urgh!!!

Comments

Re: Not allowed to donate blood

Submitted by rascal_on_fire on Wed, 2010-02-17 - 04:18

I live in Namibia, for those of you who don't know where that is, it's in South West Africa, where Brad and Angelina had their baby a few years back.

Anyway, according to the rules here, if you've ever had a convulsion (I have grand mal seizures) you're not allowed to donate. They say it's because they're worried about how the donation process will affect you, they don't want you convulsing whilst donating.

It really sucks!!!!!

I live in Namibia, for those of you who don't know where that is, it's in South West Africa, where Brad and Angelina had their baby a few years back.

Anyway, according to the rules here, if you've ever had a convulsion (I have grand mal seizures) you're not allowed to donate. They say it's because they're worried about how the donation process will affect you, they don't want you convulsing whilst donating.

It really sucks!!!!!

Re: Not allowed to donate blood

Submitted by lacbos on Wed, 2010-02-17 - 10:42

I am on epileptic drugs and before they disqualified medue to my medications I am on.....They told me you can't donate because of small cut on my finger. What a BUMMER!! Oh well I guess the lab is where I am taking my blood forever and the doesn't care if I have 1 cut 2 cuts ????? Life can be really a BUMMER!!!!

I am on epileptic drugs and before they disqualified medue to my medications I am on.....They told me you can't donate because of small cut on my finger. What a BUMMER!! Oh well I guess the lab is where I am taking my blood forever and the doesn't care if I have 1 cut 2 cuts ????? Life can be really a BUMMER!!!!

Re: Not allowed to donate blood

Submitted by peterhotchkin on Fri, 2011-01-21 - 08:30
In Australia, anyone with epilepsy has to be seizure free for two years before being able to donate blood products. They're worried about breaking needles, etc. I think that donating 'plasma' is a different deal with AEDs. So maybe ask about donating just the plasma product of your blood. A lot of people can donate plasma or platelets by apheresis, when they cannot donate just straight blood. I've been to Malaria areas so I couldn't donate for 5 years. Then I was diagnosed with a blood aggregation defect so I have to get a letter from the Dr, plus the x-years for each other 'condition'. I was just about ready to give blood when I had my first seizure in 10 years and only my second ever. At that stage I wasn't on any AEDs because I hadn't been diagnosed then. Now it's just becoming all too hard! They keep calling for blood, but in Australia they've had some legal problems with blood products so they try to cover everything. It sucks more if you have a rare blood type and still can't donate. But then one of my closest friends has the rarest blood type but because he is gay he cannot donate blood... (unless be abstains for 12 months). You can never donate blood in Australia if you have ever injected a non-prescribed drug, even if it was only once. Also, you cannot ever donate blood in Australia if you've lived in the UK between 1980-1996. Peter Hotchkin

Sign Up for Emails

Stay up to date with the latest epilepsy news, stories from the community, and more.