Tetanus Toxoid

Generic Name: tetanus toxoid
Other Brand Names: Tetanus Toxoid Adsorbed

What is tetanus toxoid vaccine?

Tetanus is a serious disease caused by bacteria. Tetanus toxoid vaccine exposes the individual to a small amount of the bacteria (or to a protein from the bacteria) causing the body to develop immunity to the disease.

Tetanus (Lockjaw) causes painful tightening of the muscles, usually all over the body. It can lead to "locking” of the jaw so the victim cannot open his mouth or swallow. Tetanus leads to death in about 1 out of 10 cases.

Tetanus toxoid vaccine can help prevent tetanus. Tetanus toxoid vaccine is made for people 7 years of age and older. After a person completes the primary immunization schedule, a tetanus toxoid booster dose is needed every 10 years all through life. Talk to your doctor about the tetanus immunization and booster schedule.

Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking tetanus toxoid vaccine?

Anyone who had a life-threatening allergic reaction after a dose of tetanus vaccine should not get another dose.

Before receiving tetanus toxoid, talk to your doctor if you:

  • have HIV or AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system;

  • 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. Tetanus toxoid vaccine may not be recommended in some cases.

Individuals 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 tetanus toxoid vaccine.

Talk to your doctor before receiving tetanus toxoid vaccine if you are pregnant or breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take tetanus toxoid vaccine?

Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will administer the tetanus toxoid vaccine as an injection.

Tetanus toxoid vaccine can help prevent tetanus. Tetanus toxoid vaccine is made for people 7 years of age and older. After a person completes the primary immunization schedule, a tetanus toxoid vaccine booster dose is needed every 10 years all through life. Talk to your doctor about the primary immunization and booster schedule.

Tetanus toxoid vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines.

Your doctor may recommend reducing pain or soreness from the injection by taking an aspirin-free pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, Tempra, others) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, others) when the shot is given and for the next 24-48 hours. Your healthcare provider can tell you the appropriate dosages of these medications.

What happens if I miss a dose of tetanus toxoid vaccine?

Contact your doctor if a dose of tetanus toxoid vaccine is missed.

Where can I get more information about tetanus toxoid vaccine?
Your pharmacist has information about tetanus toxoid vaccine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of tetanus toxoid vaccine?

Getting tetanus is much riskier than getting the tetanus toxoid vaccine. However, a vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of tetanus toxoid 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 tetanus toxoid 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; or

  • deep, aching pain and muscle wasting in the upper arm(s) starting 2 days to 4 weeks after the shot, and lasting up to many months.

Other less serious side effects, such as soreness redness, or swelling where the shot was given, may be more likely to occur. These side effects usually start within hours to a day or two after vaccination. They may last 1-2 days. Your doctor may recommend reducing pain or soreness from the injection by taking an aspirin-free pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, Tempra, others) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, others) when the shot is given and for the next 24-48 hours. Your healthcare provider can tell you the appropriate dosages of these medications.

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 tetanus toxoid vaccine?

Individuals 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 tetanus toxoid vaccine.

What should I avoid while taking tetanus toxoid vaccine?

There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity before or after receiving the tetanus toxoid vaccine.

What other drugs will affect tetanus toxoid vaccine?

Talk to your doctor before receiving tetanus toxoid 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).

It may not be recommended to receive tetanus toxoid vaccine if you are taking any of the medications listed above.

What happens if I have an overdose of tetanus toxoid vaccine?

An overdose of tetanus toxoid vaccine is unlikely to occur.

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. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum'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. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum 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.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008