JPAC Joint United Kingdom (UK) Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee

Migraine

Obligatory

Must not donate if:

1. Migraine is severe and occurs more than once a week.
2. On prophylaxis with sodium valproate or valproic acid.

Discretionary

Providing the migraine is not severe and occurs less than once a week, even if on prophylactic treatment (except valproate/valproic acid), accept.

See if Relevant

Headache
Valproate

Additional Information

Migraine is caused by a disturbance in the normal blood flow to parts of the brain. In its more severe forms it can be severely disabling. By not accepting people with the more severe forms of migraine we hope to prevent precipitating an attack through the process of donating blood.

Any donor who has had severe migraine associated with giving blood on more than one occasion should be advised not to continue as a donor.

Reason for change

Addition of an obligatory deferral for treatment with valproate and a link to the Valproate entry.

Donor Information

If you wish to obtain more information regarding a personal medical issue please contact your National Help Line.

Please do not contact this web site for personal medical queries, as we are not in a position to provide individual answers.

Update Information

This entry was last updated in:
DSG-WB Edition 203, Release 55.