Drug interactions
Hydrocortisone + Meningococcal group b vaccine
Severity: Moderate
Hydrocortisone and Meningococcal group b 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
Systemic corticosteroids can blunt the immune response to vaccines, which may lead to lower protection. The effect depends on the dose and duration of steroid exposure. Physiologic replacement doses of hydrocortisone generally do not impair vaccine response.
What this interaction means in plain words
Hydrocortisone and Meningococcal group b 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
Corticosteroid immunosuppression reduces antibody production after vaccination.
What to do
Give the vaccine as scheduled in patients on replacement doses. For patients on immunosuppressive doses, vaccinate when possible before therapy or consider checking the antibody response, and do not withhold vaccination in high-risk patients.
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 Hydrocortisone
- Hydrocortisone + Mifepristone Contraindicated
- Hydrocortisone + Poliovirus vaccine live oral trivalent Contraindicated
- Hydrocortisone + Smallpox vaccine live Contraindicated
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Hydrocortisone Major
- Aldesleukin + Hydrocortisone Major
- Aspirin + Hydrocortisone Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Hydrocortisone with Meningococcal group b vaccine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Hydrocortisone and Meningococcal group b 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. Systemic corticosteroids can blunt the immune response to vaccines, which may lead to lower protection. The effect depends on the dose and duration of steroid exposure. Physiologic replacement doses of hydrocortisone generally do not impair vaccine response.
How serious is the interaction between Hydrocortisone and Meningococcal group b 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: Give the vaccine as scheduled in patients on replacement doses. For patients on immunosuppressive doses, vaccinate when possible before therapy or consider checking the antibody response, and do not withhold vaccination in high-risk patients.
What other medicines interact with Hydrocortisone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Hydrocortisone with, for example, Mifepristone, Poliovirus vaccine live oral trivalent, Smallpox vaccine live. The full list is on the Hydrocortisone page.
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