Drug interactions
Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine + Tocilizumab
Severity: Moderate
Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine and Tocilizumab: 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
Tocilizumab blocks interleukin-6 signalling and can blunt the antibody response to vaccines. An inactivated conjugate vaccine is not harmful, but the protection it gives may be lower than expected.
What this interaction means in plain words
Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine and Tocilizumab 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
Interleukin-6 receptor blockade impairs B-cell activation and antibody production, reducing vaccine immunogenicity.
What to do
Give recommended vaccines ideally before starting tocilizumab, when disease status allows. If vaccinated during therapy, consider checking the antibody response or revaccinating after immune function recovers.
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 Tocilizumab
- Bcg vaccine live + Tocilizumab Contraindicated
- Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live + Tocilizumab Contraindicated
- Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live + Tocilizumab Contraindicated
- Measles vaccine + Tocilizumab Contraindicated
- Rubella vaccine + Tocilizumab Contraindicated
- Smallpox vaccine live + Tocilizumab Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine with Tocilizumab?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine and Tocilizumab 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. Tocilizumab blocks interleukin-6 signalling and can blunt the antibody response to vaccines. An inactivated conjugate vaccine is not harmful, but the protection it gives may be lower than expected.
How serious is the interaction between Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine and Tocilizumab?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Give recommended vaccines ideally before starting tocilizumab, when disease status allows. If vaccinated during therapy, consider checking the antibody response or revaccinating after immune function recovers.
What other medicines interact with Tocilizumab?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Tocilizumab with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live, Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live. The full list is on the Tocilizumab page.
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