Drug interactions
Bcg vaccine live + Etanercept
Severity: Contraindicated
Bcg vaccine live and Etanercept: contraindicated 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
BCG is a live attenuated vaccine, and in a patient receiving TNF blockade the vaccine organism may replicate without adequate control. This can lead to local or disseminated BCG infection. The vaccine response may also be blunted.
What this interaction means in plain words
Bcg vaccine live and Etanercept are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two.
Why it happens
TNF inhibition impairs granuloma formation and mycobacterial containment, so the live attenuated organism can proliferate.
What to do
Do not give BCG to patients on etanercept. Complete the vaccination before starting etanercept, ideally at least 4 weeks beforehand, or defer it until the drug has been stopped for an adequate washout period.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there an alternative to one of these two medicines for me?
- If both are essential, who is monitoring me and how often?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek help straight away?
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Other interactions of Etanercept
- Etanercept + Golimumab Contraindicated
- Etanercept + Measles mumps and rubella vaccine Contraindicated
- Etanercept + Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live Contraindicated
- Etanercept + Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live Contraindicated
- Etanercept + Measles vaccine Contraindicated
- Etanercept + Rubella vaccine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Bcg vaccine live with Etanercept?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Bcg vaccine live and Etanercept are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two. BCG is a live attenuated vaccine, and in a patient receiving TNF blockade the vaccine organism may replicate without adequate control. This can lead to local or disseminated BCG infection. The vaccine response may also be blunted.
How serious is the interaction between Bcg vaccine live and Etanercept?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Do not give BCG to patients on etanercept. Complete the vaccination before starting etanercept, ideally at least 4 weeks beforehand, or defer it until the drug has been stopped for an adequate washout period.
What other medicines interact with Etanercept?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Etanercept with, for example, Golimumab, Measles mumps and rubella vaccine, Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live. The full list is on the Etanercept page.
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