Drug interactions
Cholera vaccine + Nitrofurantoin
Severity: Moderate
Cholera vaccine and Nitrofurantoin: 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
The live attenuated oral cholera vaccine relies on bacterial replication in the gut, and antibiotics active against the strain can reduce vaccine take. Nitrofurantoin has activity against many enteric bacteria and is a systemic antibiotic with urinary concentration, so its effect on the vaccine strain is uncertain but labeling advises avoiding antibiotics.
What this interaction means in plain words
Cholera vaccine and Nitrofurantoin 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
Antibacterial activity may reduce viability or colonization of the live vaccine strain, lowering the immune response.
What to do
Delay vaccination until at least 14 days after finishing the antibiotic, as labeling advises. If the antibiotic is needed, schedule the vaccine after the course.
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 Nitrofurantoin
- Nitrofurantoin + Pexidartinib Major
- Nitrofurantoin + Pretomanid Major
- Aluminum hydroxide + Nitrofurantoin Moderate
- Bupivacaine implant + Nitrofurantoin Moderate
- Calcium carbonate + Nitrofurantoin Moderate
- Dapsone + Nitrofurantoin Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Cholera vaccine with Nitrofurantoin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Cholera vaccine and Nitrofurantoin 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. The live attenuated oral cholera vaccine relies on bacterial replication in the gut, and antibiotics active against the strain can reduce vaccine take. Nitrofurantoin has activity against many enteric bacteria and is a systemic antibiotic with urinary concentration, so its effect on the vaccine strain is uncertain but labeling advises avoiding antibiotics.
How serious is the interaction between Cholera vaccine and Nitrofurantoin?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Delay vaccination until at least 14 days after finishing the antibiotic, as labeling advises. If the antibiotic is needed, schedule the vaccine after the course.
What other medicines interact with Nitrofurantoin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Nitrofurantoin with, for example, Pexidartinib, Pretomanid, Aluminum hydroxide. The full list is on the Nitrofurantoin page.
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