Drug interactions
Prednisolone + Smallpox vaccine live
Severity: Contraindicated
Prednisolone and Smallpox 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 vaccinia vaccine can cause progressive vaccinia and serious generalised infection in immunosuppressed patients, including those on high-dose corticosteroids. Immune response may also be reduced.
What this interaction means in plain words
Prednisolone and Smallpox 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
Glucocorticoid immunosuppression impairs control of live vaccinia replication and blunts the immune response.
What to do
Avoid in patients on immunosuppressive steroid doses; use a non-replicating vaccine if one is available and indicated. Seek specialist advice if exposure risk is high.
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 Prednisolone
- Bcg vaccine live + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles vaccine + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Mifepristone + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Prednisolone + Radium-223 dichloride Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Prednisolone with Smallpox vaccine live?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Prednisolone and Smallpox 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 vaccinia vaccine can cause progressive vaccinia and serious generalised infection in immunosuppressed patients, including those on high-dose corticosteroids. Immune response may also be reduced.
How serious is the interaction between Prednisolone and Smallpox 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 in patients on immunosuppressive steroid doses; use a non-replicating vaccine if one is available and indicated. Seek specialist advice if exposure risk is high.
What other medicines interact with Prednisolone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Prednisolone with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live, Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live. The full list is on the Prednisolone page.
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