Drug interactions
Deflazacort + Yellow fever vaccine
Severity: Major
Deflazacort and Yellow fever vaccine: 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
Yellow fever vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine, and immunosuppressive corticosteroid therapy increases the risk of vaccine-associated viscerotropic or neurotropic disease and reduces the immune response.
What this interaction means in plain words
Deflazacort and Yellow fever vaccine 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
Glucocorticoid immunosuppression permits increased replication of the live attenuated virus and blunts the immune response.
What to do
Avoid vaccination during immunosuppressive-dose steroid therapy; if travel to an endemic area is unavoidable, seek specialist advice or a medical exemption letter.
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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References
Other interactions of Deflazacort
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Deflazacort Contraindicated
- Bcg vaccine live + Deflazacort Contraindicated
- Deflazacort + Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal Contraindicated
- Deflazacort + Measles mumps and rubella vaccine Contraindicated
- Deflazacort + Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live Contraindicated
- Deflazacort + Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Deflazacort with Yellow fever vaccine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Deflazacort and Yellow fever vaccine 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. Yellow fever vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine, and immunosuppressive corticosteroid therapy increases the risk of vaccine-associated viscerotropic or neurotropic disease and reduces the immune response.
How serious is the interaction between Deflazacort and Yellow fever vaccine?
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 vaccination during immunosuppressive-dose steroid therapy; if travel to an endemic area is unavoidable, seek specialist advice or a medical exemption letter.
What other medicines interact with Deflazacort?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Deflazacort with, for example, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live, Bcg vaccine live, Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal. The full list is on the Deflazacort page.
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