Can you take Nilotinib with Varicella virus vaccine?
1 drug interaction and 13 additional warnings found for the following 2 drugs:
- nilotinib
- varicella virus vaccine
Drug interactions
Major drug interactions
Major:
varicella virus vaccine nilotinib
Applies to: varicella virus vaccine and nilotinib
If you are currently being treated or have recently been treated with nilotinib, you should let your doctor know before receiving varicella virus vaccine. Depending on the dose and length of time you have been on nilotinib, you may be at risk for developing an infection from the vaccine or have a reduced response to the vaccine. In some situations, your doctor may want to delay vaccination to give your body time to recover from the effects of nilotinib therapy. Conversely, if you have recently been vaccinated with varicella virus vaccine, your doctor may choose to postpone treatment with nilotinib for a few weeks. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.
Food/lifestyle interactions
Major food/lifestyle interactions
Major:
nilotinib Food/Lifestyle
Applies to: nilotinib
Do not consume grapefruit or grapefruit juice during treatment with nilotinib unless directed otherwise by your doctor. Grapefruit juice can increase the blood levels of nilotinib to dangerous levels, increasing the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious. You should seek immediate medical attention if you develop sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, shortness of breath, or heart palpitations during treatment with nilotinib. Food may also increase the blood levels of nilotinib. Therefore, you should take nilotinib on an empty stomach, meaning no food should be eaten for at least two hours before or one hour after taking nilotinib. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.
Disease interactions
12 potential interactions Applies to: 12 conditions, including Hypokalemia, Fever, Lactose Intolerance, Liver Disease, and Pancreatitis.
Cardiovascular Conditions and Disorders
Moderate:
nilotinib
Nilotinib has a moderate potential interaction with Cardiovascular Conditions and Disorders.
Cardiovascular events (including arterial vascular occlusive events, peripheral arterial occlusive disease, and ischemic cerebrovascular events) have been reported in patients receiving BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Patients should seek immediate medical attention if acute signs or symptoms of cardiovascular events occur. Cardiovascular status should be evaluated, and cardiovascular risk factors should be monitored and actively managed during treatment.
Electrolyte Abnormalities
Moderate:
nilotinib
Nilotinib has a moderate potential interaction with Electrolyte Abnormalities.
Nilotinib can cause hypophosphatemia, hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, and hyponatremia. Electrolyte abnormalities should be corrected prior to initiating nilotinib and during therapy; these electrolytes should be monitored periodically during therapy.
Fever
Major:
varicella virus vaccine
Varicella virus vaccine has a major potential interaction with Fever.
Ideally, vaccination should occur when an individual is healthy, thus minimizing the risk of an adverse host reaction and/or vaccine failure. However, a current or recent infection does not necessarily preclude the use of vaccines, depending on the severity of the patient's symptoms and their etiology. Superficial infections and minor acute illnesses such as a mild upper respiratory infection with or without low-grade fever do not contraindicate immunization, particularly if prompt administration of a vaccine is deemed necessary or beneficial. In fact, when vaccines are administered during the course of a minor illness, the risk of adverse events is not increased, and serum antibody response is not often diminished. On the other hand, if fever or symptoms suggest a moderate or severe illness, it is usually appropriate to withhold vaccination until the patient has recovered. In addition to the potential risks already mentioned, evolving signs and symptoms of the illness can sometimes confound the diagnosis of a vaccine reaction if it develops. In the presence of any infection, the decision to administer or withhold/defer immunization should take into consideration the benefits versus the risks to an individual patient.
Hypokalemia
Major:
nilotinib
Nilotinib has a major potential interaction with Hypokalemia.
The use of nilotinib is contraindicated in patients with hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, or long QT syndrome. Nilotinib prolongs the QT interval in a concentration-dependent manner; QT prolongation may lead to torsade de pointes, which can result in syncope, seizures, and/or death. Before initiating nilotinib and periodically, electrolyte, calcium, and magnesium blood levels should be tested. Hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia must be corrected before starting treatment and these electrolytes should be monitored periodically. ECGs should be obtained at baseline, 7 days after starting nilotinib, following dose adjustments, and periodically as clinically indicated.
Immunodeficiency
Major:
varicella virus vaccine
Varicella virus vaccine has a major potential interaction with Immunodeficiency.
In general, the use of varicella virus vaccine is contraindicated in patients with primary or acquired immunodeficiency or infection with HIV. Since varicella virus vaccine contains live attenuated virus, the absence of immune competence may potentiate the replication of vaccine virus, increase adverse host reactions, and compromise serum antibody response. The vaccine should not be administered to immunosuppressed or immunodeficient individuals and those receiving immunosuppressive therapy, including individuals receiving immunosuppressive doses of corticosteroids as it may cause an extensive vaccine-associated rash or disseminated disease in these individuals.
Infection
Major:
varicella virus vaccine
Varicella virus vaccine has a major potential interaction with Infection.
Ideally, vaccination should occur when an individual is healthy, thus minimizing the risk of an adverse host reaction and/or vaccine failure. However, a current or recent infection does not necessarily preclude the use of vaccines, depending on the severity of the patient's symptoms and their etiology. Superficial infections and minor acute illnesses such as a mild upper respiratory infection with or without low-grade fever do not contraindicate immunization, particularly if prompt administration of a vaccine is deemed necessary or beneficial. In fact, when vaccines are administered during the course of a minor illness, the risk of adverse events is not increased, and serum antibody response is not often diminished. On the other hand, if fever or symptoms suggest a moderate or severe illness, it is usually appropriate to withhold vaccination until the patient has recovered. In addition to the potential risks already mentioned, evolving signs and symptoms of the illness can sometimes confound the diagnosis of a vaccine reaction if it develops. In the presence of any infection, the decision to administer or withhold/defer immunization should take into consideration the benefits versus the risks to an individual patient.
Intestinal Anastomoses
Moderate:
nilotinib
Nilotinib has a moderate potential interaction with Intestinal Anastomoses.
Nilotinib exposure is reduced in patients with total gastrectomy. More frequent monitoring of these patients is recommended; a dose increase or alternative therapy should be considered.
Lactose Intolerance
Moderate:
nilotinib
Nilotinib has a moderate potential interaction with Lactose Intolerance.
Nilotinib capsule formulations contain lactose and are not recommended for patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, severe lactase deficiency with a severe degree of intolerance to lactose-containing products, or glucose-galactose malabsorption.
Liver Disease
Moderate:
nilotinib
Nilotinib has a moderate potential interaction with Liver Disease.
Nilotinib exposure is increased in patients with hepatic impairment. If possible, alternative therapies should be considered; if nilotinib use is necessary, the dosage should be reduced and the QT interval should be monitored closely. Nilotinib may cause hepatotoxicity as measured by elevations in bilirubin, AST, ALT, and alkaline phosphatase; liver function tests should be monitored monthly or as clinically indicated and after dosage adjustments.
Long QT Syndrome
Major:
nilotinib
Nilotinib has a major potential interaction with Long QT Syndrome.
The use of nilotinib is contraindicated in patients with hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, or long QT syndrome. Nilotinib prolongs the QT interval in a concentration-dependent manner; QT prolongation may lead to torsade de pointes, which can result in syncope, seizures, and/or death. Before initiating nilotinib and periodically, electrolyte, calcium, and magnesium blood levels should be tested. Hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia must be corrected before starting treatment and these electrolytes should be monitored periodically. ECGs should be obtained at baseline, 7 days after starting nilotinib, following dose adjustments, and periodically as clinically indicated.
Magnesium Imbalance
Major:
nilotinib
Nilotinib has a major potential interaction with Magnesium Imbalance.
The use of nilotinib is contraindicated in patients with hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, or long QT syndrome. Nilotinib prolongs the QT interval in a concentration-dependent manner; QT prolongation may lead to torsade de pointes, which can result in syncope, seizures, and/or death. Before initiating nilotinib and periodically, electrolyte, calcium, and magnesium blood levels should be tested. Hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia must be corrected before starting treatment and these electrolytes should be monitored periodically. ECGs should be obtained at baseline, 7 days after starting nilotinib, following dose adjustments, and periodically as clinically indicated.
Pancreatitis
Moderate:
nilotinib
Nilotinib has a moderate potential interaction with Pancreatitis.
Nilotinib can increase serum lipase. Patients with a history of pancreatitis may be at greater risk of elevated serum lipase. Serum lipase should be monitored monthly or as clinically indicated. If lipase elevations occur with abdominal symptoms, treatment should be interrupted and appropriate diagnostic evaluation should be considered to exclude pancreatitis.
More resources
nilotinib
A total of 888 drugs are known to interact with nilotinib.
- Nilotinib is in the drug class BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
- Nilotinib is used to treat Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia.
varicella virus vaccine
A total of 394 drugs are known to interact with varicella virus vaccine.
- Varicella virus vaccine is in the drug class viral vaccines.
- Varicella virus vaccine is used to treat Varicella-Zoster, Prophylaxis.
Drug Interaction Classification
| Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit. | |
| Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances. | |
| Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan. | |
| No interaction information available. |
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.