Drug interactions
Mycophenolate mofetil + Zoster vaccine live
Severity: Contraindicated
Mycophenolate mofetil and Zoster vaccine live: 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
Live zoster vaccine contains attenuated varicella-zoster virus that may cause disseminated vaccine-strain infection in patients on mycophenolate. Vaccine efficacy is also likely to be reduced.
What this interaction means in plain words
Mycophenolate mofetil and Zoster vaccine live 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.
Why it happens
Mycophenolate-induced lymphocyte suppression allows uncontrolled replication of the live attenuated virus and reduces vaccine immunogenicity.
What to do
Avoid the live vaccine in patients on mycophenolate; use the recombinant non-live zoster vaccine instead where indicated.
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 Mycophenolate mofetil
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Mycophenolate mofetil Contraindicated
- Bcg vaccine live + Mycophenolate mofetil Contraindicated
- Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal + Mycophenolate mofetil Contraindicated
- Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live + Mycophenolate mofetil Contraindicated
- Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live + Mycophenolate mofetil Contraindicated
- Measles vaccine + Mycophenolate mofetil Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Mycophenolate mofetil with Zoster vaccine live?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Mycophenolate mofetil and Zoster vaccine live 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. Live zoster vaccine contains attenuated varicella-zoster virus that may cause disseminated vaccine-strain infection in patients on mycophenolate. Vaccine efficacy is also likely to be reduced.
How serious is the interaction between Mycophenolate mofetil and Zoster vaccine live?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid the live vaccine in patients on mycophenolate; use the recombinant non-live zoster vaccine instead where indicated.
What other medicines interact with Mycophenolate mofetil?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Mycophenolate mofetil with, for example, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live, Bcg vaccine live, Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal. The full list is on the Mycophenolate mofetil page.
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