Drug interactions
Cytarabine + Influenza a vaccine
Severity: Moderate
Cytarabine and Influenza a vaccine: 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
Cytarabine suppresses bone marrow and immune function, so the response to an H5N1 influenza vaccine may be reduced. Patients may not reach protective antibody levels.
What this interaction means in plain words
Cytarabine and Influenza a vaccine 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
Chemotherapy-induced immunosuppression blunts vaccine immunogenicity.
What to do
Where possible vaccinate before chemotherapy or when counts have recovered between cycles. Do not rely on vaccination alone for protection.
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 Cytarabine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Cytarabine with Influenza a vaccine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Cytarabine and Influenza a vaccine 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. Cytarabine suppresses bone marrow and immune function, so the response to an H5N1 influenza vaccine may be reduced. Patients may not reach protective antibody levels.
How serious is the interaction between Cytarabine and Influenza a vaccine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Where possible vaccinate before chemotherapy or when counts have recovered between cycles. Do not rely on vaccination alone for protection.
What other medicines interact with Cytarabine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Cytarabine with, for example, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live, Axicabtagene ciloleucel, Belatacept. The full list is on the Cytarabine page.
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