Drugs and platelet donation

Some drugs can alter platelet function for several hours or days after they are taken. These are usually taken as painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications. If a donor reports taking such medication, but has been assessed as eligible to donate, their medication must be checked against the drug index below.

Principles

If a donor is otherwise eligible to donate but has taken a drug affecting platelets in the 48 hours prior to donation, their donation should not be used to manufacture blood components that are intended to treat thrombocytopenia or platelet dysfunction; this includes apheresis platelets, pooled platelets and some whole blood components.

The drug index lists nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other painkillers which affect platelet function. It does not include every medication which could affect platelets. Some drugs, such as clopidogrel, have not been included because a donor taking them would not be eligible to donate anyway.

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How to use this index

Drugs which affect platelet function are usually taken as painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications. Some can be purchased directly from shops or pharmacies without a prescription. They may be sold under their generic drug name (e.g. aspirin, ibuprofen) or they may be sold under a brand name.

The drug index lists only generic drug names and does not includes brand names. This is because some brand names are used for several formulations, not all of which contain the same active drugs. It is important that staff confirm the exact drug taken by a donor.

Up-to-date product information for branded medications available in the UK can be found online from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the British National Formulary and the European Medicines Agency. If there is doubt about the active drug in any individual branded product, staff should apply the 48 hour rule for platelet production.

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Post donation information

Donors may contact the blood service to report they had taken NSAIDs before their donation. If any blood components containing therapeutic platelets have been manufactured from the donor’s blood, these should be discarded. If such components have been transfused, a DCSO should assess the need to notify the treating clinician.

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Drug index

A

Aceclofenac

Acemetacin

Aspirin

Azapropazone

C

Celecoxib

D

Dexketoprofen

Diclofenac potassium

Diclofenac sodium

E

Etodolac

Etoricoxib

F

Felbinac

Fenbufen

Fenoprofen

Flurbiprofen

I

Ibuprofen

Indometacin

K

Ketoprofen

Ketorolac trometamol

M

Mefenamic acid

Meloxicam

N

Nabumetone

Naproxen

P

Parecoxib

Piroxicam

S

Sulindac

T

Tenoxicam

Tiaprofenic acid

Tolfenamic acid

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