Rabies is a serious disease caused by a virus. Rabies is mainly a disease of animals.
Humans get rabies when they are bitten by an infected animal. There may be no symptoms at
first, but weeks or even years after a bite from an infected animal, rabies can cause pain, fatigue,
headaches, irritability, fever, seizures, hallucinations, and paralysis. Rabies can be fatal.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking rabies vaccine?
Tell your doctor if you have had a life-threatening allergic reaction to the rabies
vaccine or a component of the vaccine.
People at high risk of exposure to rabies include veterinarians, animal handlers, rabies
laboratory workers, spelunkers, rabies biologics production workers, or anyone who is likely to
come in contact with infected animals or the virus itself. These people should be offered rabies
vaccine.
Before receiving rabies vaccine, talk to your doctor if you:
have HIV or AIDS or another disease that affects the immune
system;
are taking an antimalarial drug;
are taking a medication that affects the immune system (e.g.
steroids, anti-rejection medications);
have cancer; or
are receiving cancer treatment with x-rays, radiation, or
medication.
Ask your healthcare provider for more information. Rabies vaccine
may not be recommended in some cases.
People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. Those who are moderately
or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting rabies vaccine. However, if
you have been exposed to the rabies virus, you should get the vaccine regardless of any other
illnesses you may have.
Talk to your doctor before receiving rabies vaccine if you are pregnant or
breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take rabies vaccine?
Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will administer the rabies vaccine as an
injection.
What happens if I miss a dose of rabies vaccine?
Talk to your doctor if you miss a dose.
Where can I get more information about rabies vaccine?
Your pharmacist has information about rabies vaccine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of rabies vaccine?
Getting rabies disease is much riskier than getting rabies vaccine. However, a vaccine,
like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The
risk of rabies vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.
Seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately if any of the
following rare but serious side effects from rabies vaccine are experienced:
a serious allergic reaction including swelling of the lips, tongue, or
face; difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; hives; paleness; weakness; dizziness; or a fast
heart beat within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot;
high fever; or
behavior changes.
Some people who get rabies vaccine get a sore spot where the shot was
given.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Contact your doctor about any
side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What is the most important information I should know about rabies vaccine?
People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. Those who are moderately
or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting rabies vaccine. However, if
you have been exposed to the rabies virus, you should get the vaccine regardless of any other
illnesses you may have.
What should I avoid while taking rabies vaccine?
There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity before or after receiving rabies
vaccine.
What other drugs will affect rabies vaccine?
Talk to your doctor before receiving rabies vaccine if you are taking any of the following
medications that may affect the immune system:
an oral or injectable steroid medication such as betamethasone
(Celestone), cortisone (Cortone), dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), hydrocortisone (Cortef,
Hydrocortone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisolone (Prelone, Pediapred), prednisone
(Orasone, Deltasone, others), or triamcinolone (Aristocort);
an inhaled or nasal steroid such as beclomethasone (Qvar,
Beclovent, Beconase, Vanceril, Vancenase), budesonide (Pulmicort, Rhinocort), flunisolide
(Aerobid, Nasalide, Nasarel), fluticasone (Flovent, Flonase), mometasone (Nasonex), or
triamcinolone (Azmacort, Nasacort);
treatment for cancer with chemotherapy (medication),
radiation, or x-rays;
azathioprine (Imuran);
basiliximab (Simulect);
cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf);
etanercept (Enbrel);
leflunomide (Arava);
muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone);
mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept);
sirolimus (Rapamune); or
tacrolimus (Prograf).
Other drugs may affect rabies vaccine, talk to your doctor about any
medications you are taking.
What happens if I have an overdose of rabies vaccine?
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share
your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum
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warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does
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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. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information
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interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse
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Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 11/10/2009