It depends on the type of blood test you're having and what medication you take.
If you're not sure or you have any questions about your blood test, ask your healthcare professional for advice.
You should never stop taking prescribed medication unless advised to do so by your healthcare team.
Medication and blood test results
Some medicines can affect the results of a blood test, but this doesn't necessarily mean that you need to stop taking your medicine.
For example, oral corticosteroids can increase your cholesterol levels in a blood cholesterol test.
However, your doctor can take this into account when interpreting your test results, so you won't need to stop taking your medicine.
If you're unsure, carry on taking your medicine as prescribed and check with your doctor.
You may also want to take your medicine with you to show the person carrying out the blood test.
Herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements can also affect results, so if you take any of these you should tell your doctor.
When to stop taking a medicine
You should never stop taking prescribed medication, unless you're advised to do so by your doctor.
In some cases, you may need to stop taking a medicine before a blood test.
Testing your medication
If you're having a blood test to check whether your medication is working, in most cases you should carry on taking your medicine.
For example, if you're taking medicine to lower your cholesterol level, you should keep taking it before your cholesterol blood test, as the result will show whether the medicine is working.
Read the answers to more questions about operations, tests and procedures.
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