Drug interactions
Prednisone + Smallpox vaccine live
Severity: Contraindicated
Prednisone 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
The live vaccinia vaccine can cause progressive vaccinia or generalized infection in immunosuppressed patients, and prednisone also weakens the immune response to it. The result can be severe vaccine-related disease and reduced protection.
What this interaction means in plain words
Prednisone 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
Corticosteroid-induced immunosuppression permits uncontrolled replication of live vaccinia virus and reduces vaccine response.
What to do
Avoid replicating vaccinia vaccine in patients on immunosuppressive prednisone doses; use a non-replicating vaccine if one is available and indicated. Defer vaccination until steroids have been stopped for an adequate interval, unless the 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 Prednisone
- Bcg vaccine live + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Measles vaccine + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Mifepristone + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Prednisone + Radium-223 dichloride Contraindicated
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Prednisone Major
- Aldesleukin + Prednisone Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Prednisone with Smallpox vaccine live?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Prednisone 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. The live vaccinia vaccine can cause progressive vaccinia or generalized infection in immunosuppressed patients, and prednisone also weakens the immune response to it. The result can be severe vaccine-related disease and reduced protection.
How serious is the interaction between Prednisone 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 replicating vaccinia vaccine in patients on immunosuppressive prednisone doses; use a non-replicating vaccine if one is available and indicated. Defer vaccination until steroids have been stopped for an adequate interval, unless the exposure risk is high.
What other medicines interact with Prednisone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Prednisone with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Measles vaccine, Mifepristone. The full list is on the Prednisone page.
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