Drug interactions
Ocrelizumab + Zoster vaccine recombinant
Severity: Moderate
Ocrelizumab and Zoster vaccine recombinant: 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
B-cell depletion by ocrelizumab blunts antibody responses to vaccines, so zoster vaccine may produce a weaker immune response. The recombinant vaccine is non-live and safe to give, but protection may be lower.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ocrelizumab and Zoster vaccine recombinant 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
Anti-CD20 B-cell depletion impairs humoral vaccine responses.
What to do
Give the recombinant zoster vaccine at least 4 weeks before starting ocrelizumab where possible. Otherwise vaccinate and accept a potentially reduced response.
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 Ocrelizumab
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Ocrelizumab Contraindicated
- Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal + Ocrelizumab Contraindicated
- Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live + Ocrelizumab Contraindicated
- Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live + Ocrelizumab Contraindicated
- Measles vaccine + Ocrelizumab Contraindicated
- Anti-thymocyte + Ocrelizumab Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ocrelizumab with Zoster vaccine recombinant?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Ocrelizumab and Zoster vaccine recombinant 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. B-cell depletion by ocrelizumab blunts antibody responses to vaccines, so zoster vaccine may produce a weaker immune response. The recombinant vaccine is non-live and safe to give, but protection may be lower.
How serious is the interaction between Ocrelizumab and Zoster vaccine recombinant?
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 recombinant zoster vaccine at least 4 weeks before starting ocrelizumab where possible. Otherwise vaccinate and accept a potentially reduced response.
What other medicines interact with Ocrelizumab?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Ocrelizumab with, for example, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live, Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal, Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live. The full list is on the Ocrelizumab page.
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