Drug interactions
Measles mumps and rubella vaccine + Methotrexate
Severity: Contraindicated
Measles mumps and rubella vaccine and Methotrexate: contraindicated 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
Methotrexate suppresses cellular and humoral immunity, so a live attenuated vaccine may produce a weaker antibody response. The vaccine viruses may also replicate unchecked, which raises the risk of disseminated vaccine-strain infection. Low-dose methotrexate carries less risk than high-dose regimens, but live vaccines remain generally avoided.
What this interaction means in plain words
Measles mumps and rubella vaccine and Methotrexate are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two.
Measles mumps and rubella vaccine belongs to Miscellaneous; Methotrexate belongs to Oncology.
Why it happens
Antimetabolite-induced immunosuppression impairs the immune response to live attenuated virus and permits vaccine virus replication.
What to do
Give live vaccines at least 4 weeks before starting methotrexate where possible, and avoid them during treatment. After stopping, wait about 3 months or until immune recovery is confirmed; specialist review is needed for low-dose cases.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there an alternative to one of these two medicines for me?
- If both are essential, who is monitoring me and how often?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek help straight away?
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Other interactions of Measles mumps and rubella vaccine
- Adalimumab + Measles mumps and rubella vaccine Contraindicated
- Anakinra + Measles mumps and rubella vaccine Contraindicated
- Antithymocyte globulin equine + Measles mumps and rubella vaccine Contraindicated
- Antithymocyte globulin rabbit + Measles mumps and rubella vaccine Contraindicated
- Azathioprine + Measles mumps and rubella vaccine Contraindicated
- Basiliximab + Measles mumps and rubella vaccine Contraindicated
Other interactions of Methotrexate
- Acitretin + Methotrexate Contraindicated
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Methotrexate Contraindicated
- Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal + Methotrexate Contraindicated
- Ketorolac + Methotrexate Contraindicated
- Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live + Methotrexate Contraindicated
- Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live + Methotrexate Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Measles mumps and rubella vaccine with Methotrexate?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Measles mumps and rubella vaccine and Methotrexate are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two. Methotrexate suppresses cellular and humoral immunity, so a live attenuated vaccine may produce a weaker antibody response. The vaccine viruses may also replicate unchecked, which raises the risk of disseminated vaccine-strain infection. Low-dose methotrexate carries less risk than high-dose regimens, but live vaccines remain generally avoided.
How serious is the interaction between Measles mumps and rubella vaccine and Methotrexate?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Give live vaccines at least 4 weeks before starting methotrexate where possible, and avoid them during treatment. After stopping, wait about 3 months or until immune recovery is confirmed; specialist review is needed for low-dose cases.
What other medicines interact with Measles mumps and rubella vaccine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Measles mumps and rubella vaccine with, for example, Adalimumab, Anakinra, Antithymocyte globulin equine. The full list is on the Measles mumps and rubella vaccine page.
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