Drug interactions
Bcg vaccine live + Ethambutol
Severity: Moderate
Bcg vaccine live and Ethambutol: 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
Ethambutol is active against mycobacteria and could reduce replication of the live BCG strain, potentially lowering vaccine effect. The interaction is largely theoretical, as antimycobacterial drugs generally impair live BCG.
What this interaction means in plain words
Bcg vaccine live and Ethambutol 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
Antimycobacterial activity of ethambutol may inhibit the live attenuated BCG organism.
What to do
Avoid giving BCG vaccine during ethambutol therapy; defer vaccination until after the course is finished.
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 Ethambutol
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Bcg vaccine live with Ethambutol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Bcg vaccine live and Ethambutol 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. Ethambutol is active against mycobacteria and could reduce replication of the live BCG strain, potentially lowering vaccine effect. The interaction is largely theoretical, as antimycobacterial drugs generally impair live BCG.
How serious is the interaction between Bcg vaccine live and Ethambutol?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid giving BCG vaccine during ethambutol therapy; defer vaccination until after the course is finished.
What other medicines interact with Ethambutol?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Ethambutol with, for example, Allopurinol, Aluminum hydroxide / magnesium carbonate, Aluminum hydroxide / magnesium trisilicate. The full list is on the Ethambutol page.
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