Drug interactions
Bcg vaccine live + Fingolimod
Severity: Contraindicated
Bcg vaccine live and Fingolimod: 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
Fingolimod reduces lymphocyte trafficking, so live BCG may replicate uncontrollably and cause disseminated BCG infection. The vaccine response may also be reduced.
What this interaction means in plain words
Bcg vaccine live and Fingolimod 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
Fingolimod-induced lymphocyte sequestration impairs immune control of live attenuated bacteria and reduces vaccine response.
What to do
Avoid live vaccines during fingolimod therapy and for about two months after stopping it. Give required live vaccines at least four weeks before starting fingolimod.
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 Fingolimod
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Fingolimod Contraindicated
- Fingolimod + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Fingolimod + Ponesimod Contraindicated
- Fingolimod + Quinidine Contraindicated
- Fingolimod + Siponimod Contraindicated
- Fingolimod + Sotalol Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Bcg vaccine live with Fingolimod?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Bcg vaccine live and Fingolimod 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. Fingolimod reduces lymphocyte trafficking, so live BCG may replicate uncontrollably and cause disseminated BCG infection. The vaccine response may also be reduced.
How serious is the interaction between Bcg vaccine live and Fingolimod?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid live vaccines during fingolimod therapy and for about two months after stopping it. Give required live vaccines at least four weeks before starting fingolimod.
What other medicines interact with Fingolimod?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Fingolimod with, for example, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live, Pimozide, Ponesimod. The full list is on the Fingolimod page.
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