Expert: Newell R. Falkinburg, M.D. FACP - 5/8/2008

Question
Sir,
I am on amlodipine 5mg 1-0-1, for last 9 months.  I have diagnosed to have BP of 150/100 for 7 continuous days, but no apparent symptoms.  My blood group is O Negative, and once when I went for donation of blood, the doctor said no to me citing te above reason.

Now my BP is 130/85 and I am 38 years old.

Please advise me on blood donation.

Answer
Dear Ganesh,

You should be able to donate blood safely with your BP in the 130's.  Even with a blood pressure,in the 150's, I would expect that you would be asymptomatic.  Even then, donating blood would present NO hazard to you.

Having said that, donation centers usually have very stringent regulations that they arbitrarily follow that preclude blood donation in certain cases.  Often, these make no clinical sense.  This may be the case here.  

The only caveat I can think of would be the medication  you are taking.  Remember, a small amount of norvasc will be transfused, with the blood, into the donner. There may be a perceived risk to the donner here.  Personally, I would doubt it's significance.

Thanks for the question.

Sincerely,

Dr Falkinburg