Has anyone done a blood donation while taking mounjaro

[AnnotherReader]

I am due to give blood later today. I was filling in the pre donation questionnaire the first question is 'Are you taking any prescribed medicines' I was about to tick no as usual but then I remembered that I am now taking mounjaro.

Does this count as a prescribed medicine even though I have bought it privately and it was not prescribed by a doctor? Will mounjaro make me ineligible to donate blood?

Yes it's prescribed medication so you'd need to declare it. I don't know if it would make you ineligible, I guess the only way to find out is to tell them and see what the response is.

It's injected, isn't it? That will usually be a no. But if it doesn't say on the blood website, they have a number you can call - they were very helpful when I wanted to ask about something before donating.

Sorry I should have googled first - on the website it says it is ok as long as otherwise fit and well and meet the other criteria - which is weight over 7stone and able to get out of a chair unaided so I should be fine.
I will tick the yes box on the form though so the people at the donation centre are aware and can check if needed.

https://my.blood.co.uk/your-account/eligibility/health/article/?id=01811a30&title=Weight+loss+injections+%3A+Weight+Management

It's a prescribed medication

This country is full of non medical prescribers

It's not a question if who prescribed it, or whether it's private!

It's a prescribed medication you take, so you obviously need to state it

I have given blood whilst taking it. I listed it on the form. Chatted to the nurse about it and it was all fine. I was able to donate.

However this week I returned and could not donate as my haemaglobin was only 124 and it needs to be 125. It might not be related to taking Mounjaro (but eating less makes it harder to get your nutrients) and is still in the 120-150 range for women. But I am now getting more focused on what I eat and taking supplements in a bid to get my levels higher. I ate high protein / low carb for months but have got out of the routine for the last month or so.

If you've bought it and it's not been prescribed you could be taking anything!

Even private prescriptions are prescribed by a doctor. I would worry less about if you can donate blood and more about arranging a prescription from a reputable source!

@loudbatperson all private prescriptions are "bought" in that they are all paid for. Doesn't mean the OP has necessarily got a vial of something dodgy from a beautician.

Well obviously, but the OP specifically stated she had bought it and not had it prescribed. Hence why it would be a good idea to seek out a proper provider.

I think a lot of people use the terminology "bought" to mean that they got an online private prescription. And are a bit unsure about the rules around prescription medication and also don't have any experience of non-NHS prescribing, so are a little confused about the differences or not between the two.

@AnnotherReader perhaps you could confirm that your prescription is from a reputable online prescriber?

Mounjaro bought from reputable online companies is prescribed but by a prescribing pharmacist not a doctor. It is a prescribed medication.

This provides outlines the process and lists the prescribing pharmacist on the webpage. I think listing it and the pharmacist's registration number is a legal requirement.
https://www.thefamilychemist.co.uk/landing-weight-loss/?gadsource=1&gbraid=0AAAAAoSBeqVa9SzW1Zj94zakkK41014iZ&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlKOQ1efMigMVQpxQBh07Gzi5EAAYAiAAEgJayvDD_BwE

I agree that if you are not getting it through a registered online pharmacy like this one you are buying it on the black market from beauticians etc then you could be injecting yourself with literally anything. If that is the case I expect the blood centre would refuse to take a donation from you.

I have, twice now. I declared it as a prescribed prescription as it is prescribed for me albeit online rather than face to face in a GP's surgery. The first time, the person, who was visibly obese herself, asked lots of questions out of curiosity as she hadn't met anyone who was taking it before. The second time, nothing was said other than a question about side effects.

Yes I have got it from Bolt pharmacy. I don't have any health problems and don't take medication very often so I was just unsure due to it being not through my GP or NHS.

Thanks to those who have confirmed that they have been able to give blood. I was just concerned as it is quite new that it might cause confusion and I don't want to waste an appointment if I am not able to donate.

My Hb had always been low, usually around 120 or just under as I've been anaemic for decades. Was rejected trying to give blood one year so not even tried since! I do feel better since on B12 though.

Op that’s a concerning misconception. This is a prescription only medication that is prescribed by a doctor or qualified prescriber. If bought legally

if others feel the same it would explain some of the crazy antics some peiple undertake, on not following the dosage requirements and messing around. As they don’t think it’s the same as something your doctor would prescribe.

it is.

I'm booked in to give blood next week, and was worried about this also, but have read a few people on here have done, some have phoned and checked others chatted to nurses there and I've read about 6 or 7 people talking about it and all being fine.
So am less worried now about being turned away or wasting time.

It says as long as your fit and well with a bmi of over 23 then your all good..

@morbidcuriosity where does it say you need a BMI of 23 or above to give blood? This page says it's a minimum weight of 7st 12lbs with no reference to height:

my.blood.co.uk/your-account/sign-up/check-eligibility/

Having said that I was considering switching to platelet donation and filled out an eligibility check that did ask my height and then said I needed to weigh a certain amount which was only a couple of pounds lower than my pre Christmas weight (I weigh a few pounds more after loosening my diet a bit over Christmas). I had already decided that I should probably stick to blood donation only for the foreseeable future as I want to get fitter and that might mean I dip under the platelet donation threshold.

Are you donating blood or platelets?

Platelet donation check

platelets.blood.co.uk/who-can-donate-platelets/

@Choux I can't remember where I saw the bmi thing now, I'll have a look as I'm sure I read that somewhere.. the 7 stone thing is ringing a bell though..

I was asked to donate the other but they said it can't be done in my area, nearest was Southampton or Portsmouth I think, so I said was too far for me..

Just looked again.. no idea where I got the bmi thing from, . Probably something else, or someone said it on here . getting confused.

So sorry about that shit information from me..

Just want to add my voice to others who have said that this is a prescription medication so of course you absolutely must declare it before giving blood. You might be absolutely fine to donate but the only people who can decide this are the trained staff who work for the donation service.

I'm absolutely horrified that some people have the belief that "because you can buy it online" it is less of a worry than other medication. The only reason you can buy it online in a transaction that seems not to be hemmed in by all the sensible protocols surrounding prescription medication is that so many online pharmacies are exploiting loopholes in the law to sell it without adequate medical supervision.

If you want to take risks with your own health by becoming a consumer rather than a patient in relation to potent medication, fine. But do please make sure that you still follow the rules to the absolute letter before giving blood.

No one is taking a risk with their health, by being prescribed via an online prescriber, assuming it's above board and you fill out the online consultation accurately and provide the required photos and answer any other questions. It's no different, for example, to when my blood pressure medication was "reviewed" by a pharmacist from my GP surgery, which was entirely done by phone call, online and text message. It relied upon me accurately taking my own BP at home and accurately reporting it online. No one ever actually saw me in person.

The difference is that the pharmacist in your local surgery wasn't employed by a business whose raison d'etre is maximising sales.

So you disapprove of all private healthcare? Or just online pharmacies?