Drug interactions
Melphalan + Pneumococcal vaccine heptavalent
Severity: Moderate
Melphalan and Pneumococcal vaccine heptavalent: 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
Melphalan can reduce antibody responses to pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Patients with myeloma or other malignancies are already prone to pneumococcal infection, so reduced protection is relevant.
What this interaction means in plain words
Melphalan and Pneumococcal vaccine heptavalent 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
Cytotoxic immunosuppression by melphalan reduces B- and T-cell responses to vaccine antigens.
What to do
Vaccinate at least 2 weeks before melphalan when possible. Consider revaccination after immune recovery if given during therapy.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Melphalan and Pneumococcal vaccine heptavalent, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Melphalan
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Melphalan Contraindicated
- Bcg vaccine live + Melphalan Contraindicated
- Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal + Melphalan Contraindicated
- Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live + Melphalan Contraindicated
- Measles mumps and rubella vaccine + Melphalan Contraindicated
- Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live + Melphalan Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Melphalan with Pneumococcal vaccine heptavalent?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Melphalan and Pneumococcal vaccine heptavalent 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. Melphalan can reduce antibody responses to pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Patients with myeloma or other malignancies are already prone to pneumococcal infection, so reduced protection is relevant.
How serious is the interaction between Melphalan and Pneumococcal vaccine heptavalent?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Vaccinate at least 2 weeks before melphalan when possible. Consider revaccination after immune recovery if given during therapy.
What other medicines interact with Melphalan?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Melphalan with, for example, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live, Bcg vaccine live, Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal. The full list is on the Melphalan page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
