Drug interactions
Azathioprine + Typhoid polysaccharide vaccine
Severity: Moderate
Azathioprine and Typhoid polysaccharide vaccine: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Azathioprine may blunt the antibody response to the inactivated Vi polysaccharide typhoid vaccine, leaving the patient with less protection than expected. Because this vaccine is not live, there is no risk of vaccine-related infection, so the interaction concerns efficacy only.
What this interaction means in plain words
Azathioprine and Typhoid polysaccharide vaccine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Purine antimetabolite immunosuppression reduces lymphocyte proliferation and humoral response to vaccine antigens.
What to do
Vaccination is not contraindicated; where feasible give the vaccine at least 2 weeks before starting azathioprine or at a time of lowest immunosuppression. Consider that protection may be incomplete and reinforce food and water hygiene advice in endemic travel.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Azathioprine
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Azathioprine Contraindicated
- Azathioprine + Bcg vaccine live Contraindicated
- Azathioprine + Febuxostat Contraindicated
- Azathioprine + Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal Contraindicated
- Azathioprine + Measles mumps and rubella vaccine Contraindicated
- Azathioprine + Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Azathioprine with Typhoid polysaccharide vaccine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Azathioprine and Typhoid polysaccharide vaccine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Azathioprine may blunt the antibody response to the inactivated Vi polysaccharide typhoid vaccine, leaving the patient with less protection than expected. Because this vaccine is not live, there is no risk of vaccine-related infection, so the interaction concerns efficacy only.
How serious is the interaction between Azathioprine and Typhoid polysaccharide vaccine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Vaccination is not contraindicated; where feasible give the vaccine at least 2 weeks before starting azathioprine or at a time of lowest immunosuppression. Consider that protection may be incomplete and reinforce food and water hygiene advice in endemic travel.
What other medicines interact with Azathioprine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Azathioprine with, for example, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live, Bcg vaccine live, Febuxostat. The full list is on the Azathioprine page.
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