Drug interactions
Azithromycin + Bcg vaccine live
Severity: Moderate
Azithromycin and Bcg vaccine live: 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
Azithromycin has antimycobacterial activity and could reduce the viability of live BCG organisms, potentially lowering the vaccine response. The effect is theoretical and not well quantified.
What this interaction means in plain words
Azithromycin and Bcg vaccine live 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
Antibacterial activity may reduce viability of the live attenuated vaccine organism.
What to do
Defer BCG vaccination until the azithromycin course is finished. For intravesical BCG, avoid concurrent antibiotics where possible.
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 Azithromycin
- Azithromycin + Cisapride Contraindicated
- Azithromycin + Domperidone Contraindicated
- Azithromycin + Dronedarone Contraindicated
- Azithromycin + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Azithromycin + Piperaquine Contraindicated
- Azithromycin + Thioridazine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Azithromycin with Bcg vaccine live?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Azithromycin and Bcg vaccine live 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. Azithromycin has antimycobacterial activity and could reduce the viability of live BCG organisms, potentially lowering the vaccine response. The effect is theoretical and not well quantified.
How serious is the interaction between Azithromycin and Bcg vaccine live?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Defer BCG vaccination until the azithromycin course is finished. For intravesical BCG, avoid concurrent antibiotics where possible.
What other medicines interact with Azithromycin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Azithromycin with, for example, Cisapride, Domperidone, Dronedarone. The full list is on the Azithromycin page.
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