Tetanus toxoid Side Effects

Some side effects of tetanus toxoid may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.

For the Consumer

Applies to tetanus toxoid: intramuscular suspension

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

You should not receive a booster vaccine if you had a life threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.

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.

Call your doctor at once if you have deep, aching pain and muscle wasting in the upper arm(s). This rare but serious reaction to a tetanus vaccine may begin 2 days to 4 weeks after you receive the vaccine, and could last up to many months.

Becoming infected with tetanus 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.

Less serious side effects of tetanus toxoid may include:

• fever, general ill feeling;

• nausea;

• feeling light-headed;

• joint pain; or

• redness, pain, tenderness, swelling, or a lump where the shot was given.

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.

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to tetanus toxoid: intramuscular solution, intramuscular suspension

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects have included hypotension.

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects have included redness, warmth, edema, induration with or without tenderness as well as urticaria, and rash.

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity side effects have rarely included an anaphylactic reaction (i.e., hives, swelling of the mouth, difficulty breathing, hypotension, or shock) following administration of products containing tetanus toxoid. Arthus-type hypersensitivity reactions, characterized by severe local reactions (generally starting 2 to 8 hours after injection) may occur, particularly in persons who have received multiple prior boosters. Deaths have been reported in temporal association with the administration of tetanus toxoid containing vaccines.

General

General side effects have included malaise, transient fever, pain, hypotension, nausea and arthralgia in some patients following an injection.

Side effects observed following immunization with vaccines should be reported by healthcare providers to the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Reporting forms and information about reporting requirements or completion of the form can be obtained from VAERS through a toll-free number 1-800-822-7967.

Healthcare providers also should report these events to the Pharmacovigilance Department, Aventis Pasteur Inc., Discovery Drive, Swiftwater, PA 18370 or call 1-800-822-2463.

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included neurological complications including cochlear lesion, brachial plexus neuropathies, paralysis of the radial nerve, paralysis of the recurrent nerve, accommodation paresis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and EEG disturbances with encephalopathy.

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. In addition, the drug information contained herein may be time sensitive and should not be utilized as a reference resource beyond the date hereof. This information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients, or recommend therapy. This drug information is a reference resource designed as supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill , knowledge, and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug of drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Drugs.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided. 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.