Drug interactions
Measles vaccine + Ustekinumab
Severity: Major
Measles vaccine and Ustekinumab: major 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
Measles vaccine contains live attenuated virus, which could cause disseminated infection in a patient on ustekinumab, and the immune response may also be reduced.
What this interaction means in plain words
Measles vaccine and Ustekinumab 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
Immunosuppression via IL-12/23 blockade may allow uncontrolled replication of live attenuated virus.
What to do
Avoid live vaccines during ustekinumab therapy; give them at least several weeks before starting if possible, and defer after stopping for a period covering drug clearance.
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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Other interactions of Ustekinumab
- Bcg vaccine live + Ustekinumab Contraindicated
- Typhoid vaccine live + Ustekinumab Contraindicated
- Adalimumab + Ustekinumab Major
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Ustekinumab Major
- Alefacept + Ustekinumab Major
- Anakinra + Ustekinumab Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Measles vaccine with Ustekinumab?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Measles vaccine and Ustekinumab 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. Measles vaccine contains live attenuated virus, which could cause disseminated infection in a patient on ustekinumab, and the immune response may also be reduced.
How serious is the interaction between Measles vaccine and Ustekinumab?
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 live vaccines during ustekinumab therapy; give them at least several weeks before starting if possible, and defer after stopping for a period covering drug clearance.
What other medicines interact with Ustekinumab?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Ustekinumab with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Typhoid vaccine live, Adalimumab. The full list is on the Ustekinumab page.
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