Drug interactions
Bcg vaccine live + Hydroxycarbamide
Severity: Major
Bcg vaccine live and Hydroxycarbamide: major interaction.
Last updated Sources: Health Canada product monograph
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
Hydroxyurea is myelosuppressive and immunosuppressive. A live BCG vaccine may be less effective and may cause disseminated BCG infection.
What this interaction means in plain words
Bcg vaccine live and Hydroxycarbamide 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
Immunosuppression impairs the vaccine response and permits replication of live bacteria.
What to do
Avoid live vaccines during hydroxyurea therapy. Defer vaccination until immune recovery.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Bcg vaccine live and Hydroxycarbamide, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
References
Other interactions of Hydroxycarbamide
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Bcg vaccine live with Hydroxycarbamide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Bcg vaccine live and Hydroxycarbamide 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. Hydroxyurea is myelosuppressive and immunosuppressive. A live BCG vaccine may be less effective and may cause disseminated BCG infection.
How serious is the interaction between Bcg vaccine live and Hydroxycarbamide?
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 live vaccines during hydroxyurea therapy. Defer vaccination until immune recovery.
What other medicines interact with Hydroxycarbamide?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Hydroxycarbamide with, for example, Didanosine, Stavudine, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live. The full list is on the Hydroxycarbamide page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
