I'm still confused about blood donation...

[Plan9]

I currently am on Lamictal. The last time I met with my neurologist, she told me that although she discouraged it (because the Lamictal levels in my blood would lower afterwards), I was eligible to donate blood while on Lamictal. She did say, however, that platelet donations were very safe.
I was a bit confused, so I asked the Red Cross man in charge at my school blood drive (I hadn't currently signed up that time), and he said that there were no problems with donating blood if you had epilepsy or were on Lamictal.

Both of them said that it was okay to donate some form of blood. Yet, almost everything I've read on online forums claims that you cannot. I really want to be able to give blood/platelets, but....

 

[epileric]

IMO it's what they say that counts. Isn't it?

 

[Plan9]

I suppose so, but there's a Yahoo answer question that says "Why can't I give blood while I'm on Lamictal?" There are even people on these forums that claim they are unable to donate.

 

[epileric]

Then you should ask the Red Cross about that since they'll be able to tell you why you can or can't.

 

[Plan9]

I suppose I'll call or something. Thanks!

 

[valeriedl]

I asked the Red Cross about giving blood and all the meds that I was on. They said that the meds weren't a problem, I just had to be sez free for 4 months (not sure about that, it may have had to be longer)

 

[stilldancing_98]

Maybe its in the state that you are in. In the state of WA you can not give blood when you are taking meds.And I know that Harborview goes through the biood over and over again before giving it to you. somebody who gave blood saved my life. But lamictal makes me have siezures . I don't know now.Thank-you for researching it so thouroghly. Teresa

 

[Nakamova]

Let us know what your Red Cross says. I've been told no, but it would be great if I could donate after all.

 

[Plan9]

Answer

Today, I went to our school blood drive and asked one of the Red Cross staff.

-I take Lamictal. Will that affect my ability to donate blood?
-What do you take it for?
-Epilepsy.
-No, it won't. You just have to be seizure-free for six months.

So yes, you are eligible to donate blood if you take Lamictal/have epilepsy (at least in the state of Georgia).

 

[Rhea]

My daughter works for the Red Cross (Johnstown PA region working out of Virginia) She called the head medical people there. They would not let me donate as the risk of lowering my med level could cause seizures. The liability of injury was too much they said. They said even if I was seizure free, they would not recommend it. The danger would be to the donor, not to the receiver. Until I was diagnosed, I donated regularly. But, I always felt really foggy headed afterward and thought it was normal. Anyway, this is what they told her. Sound like some conflicting information from different offices.