Anthrax vaccine

Generic name: Anthrax Vaccine
Brand names: Biothrax
Dosage form: injectable suspension (-)
Drug class: Bacterial vaccines

Usage of Anthrax vaccine

Anthrax is a serious disease that can spread quickly throughout the body and it is fatal in a high number of cases, especially when acquired through the lungs.

Anthrax vaccine is used to help prevent anthrax disease in adults. Anthrax vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

Anthrax vaccine is used before exposure in people who may come into contact with anthrax bacteria in certain work settings, while traveling, or during military service. Anthrax vaccine is used together with antibiotics after exposure in people who have already come into contact with anthrax bacteria.

This vaccine works by exposing you to an antigen protein that causes your body to develop immunity to the disease. Anthrax vaccine does not contain live or killed forms of the bacteria that causes anthrax.

Like any vaccine, the anthrax vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.

Anthrax vaccine side effects

Keep track of any and all side effects you have after receiving this vaccine. When you receive a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shot caused any side effects.

Becoming infected with anthrax is much more dangerous to your health than receiving this vaccine. However, like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Anthrax vaccine may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

fever, chills, body aches, nausea, flu symptoms; or

severe swelling or a hard lump where the shot was given.

Common side effects include:

redness, swelling, or tenderness where the shot was given;

trouble moving the injected arm;

muscle pain;

fainting;

feeling tired; or

headache.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report vaccine side effects to the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1 800 822 7967.

Before taking Anthrax vaccine

You should not receive this vaccine if you have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to an anthrax vaccine.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

an allergy to latex, aluminum hydroxide, benzothonium chloride, or formaldehyde;

a weak immune system caused by receiving certain medicines such as steroids, chemotherapy or radiation; or

if you take a blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven).

May harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of anthrax vaccine on the baby.

Ask a doctor if it is safe to breastfeed while using anthrax vaccine.

Relate drugs

How to use Anthrax vaccine

Usual Adult Dose for Anthrax Prophylaxis:

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis:Primary series: 0.5 mL intramuscularly at 0, 1, and 6 monthsBooster series: 0.5 mL intramuscularly 6 and 12 months after primary series and at 12-month intervals thereafterPre-Exposure Prophylaxis in patients at risk of hematoma from intramuscular injection:Primary series: 0.5 mL subcutaneously at 0, 2, and 4 weeks and 6 monthsBooster series: 0.5 mL subcutaneously 6 and 12 months after primary series and at 12-month intervals thereafterPost-Exposure Prophylaxis:Primary series: 0.5 mL subcutaneously at 0, 2, and 4 weeks post-exposure combined with antimicrobial therapyComments:-Efficacy for post-exposure prophylaxis is based solely on animal models of inhalation anthrax.-The optimal catch up schedule for missed or delayed booster doses is unknown.Uses:-Active immunization of patients aged 18 to 65 for pre-exposure prophylaxis in those at high risk of exposure-Active immunization of patients aged 18 to 65 for post-exposure prophylaxis after suspected or confirmed Bacillus anthracis exposure, administered in conjunction with recommended antibacterials

Warnings

Use only as directed. Tell your doctor if you use other medicines or have other medical conditions or allergies.

What other drugs will affect Anthrax vaccine

Before receiving this vaccine, tell your doctor about all other vaccines you have recently received.

Also, tell your doctor if you have recently received drugs or treatments that can weaken the immune system, including:

steroid medicine;

cancer treatments;

medicine to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune disorders; or

medicines to treat or prevent organ transplant rejection.

If you are using any of these medications, you may not be able to receive the vaccine, or may need to wait until the other treatments are finished.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect this vaccine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.