Drug interactions
Bcg vaccine live + Guselkumab
Severity: Major
Bcg vaccine live and Guselkumab: major 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 mycobacterial vaccine, and immunomodulatory biologics may reduce control of the organism, with a risk of disseminated BCG infection. Safety on guselkumab has not been established.
What this interaction means in plain words
Bcg vaccine live and Guselkumab can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.
Why it happens
IL-23 blockade may weaken the Th1/Th17 response needed to contain live attenuated mycobacteria.
What to do
Avoid BCG vaccination during guselkumab therapy and defer it until treatment is stopped, when appropriate. Evaluate any febrile illness after BCG promptly.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
- Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
- What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?
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Other interactions of Guselkumab
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Guselkumab Major
- Guselkumab + Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal Major
- Guselkumab + Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live Major
- Guselkumab + Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live Major
- Guselkumab + Measles vaccine Major
- Guselkumab + Rubella vaccine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Bcg vaccine live with Guselkumab?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Bcg vaccine live and Guselkumab can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. BCG is a live attenuated mycobacterial vaccine, and immunomodulatory biologics may reduce control of the organism, with a risk of disseminated BCG infection. Safety on guselkumab has not been established.
How serious is the interaction between Bcg vaccine live and Guselkumab?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid BCG vaccination during guselkumab therapy and defer it until treatment is stopped, when appropriate. Evaluate any febrile illness after BCG promptly.
What other medicines interact with Guselkumab?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Guselkumab with, for example, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live, Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal, Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live. The full list is on the Guselkumab page.
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