Adacel (adolescent and adult)

Generic Name: diphtheria/pertussis, acel/tetanus adult
Other Brand Names: diphtheria/pertussis, acel/tetanus adult

What is diphtheria, pertussis acellular, and tetanus vaccine (Tdap, adult)?

Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis are serious diseases caused by bacteria.

Diphtheria causes a thick coating in the nose, throat, and airway. It can lead to breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure, or death.

Pertussis (whooping cough) causes coughing so severe that it interferes with eating, drinking, or breathing. These spells can last for weeks and can lead to pneumonia, seizures (convulsions), brain damage, and death.

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 the mouth or swallow. Tetanus leads to death in about 1 out of 10 cases.

Diphtheria and pertussis are spread from person to person. Tetanus enters the body through a cut or wound.

The diphtheria, tetanus acellular, and pertussis adult vaccine (also called Tdap) is used to help prevent these diseases in people who are ages 11 to 64 years old. Most people in this age group require only one Tdap shot for protection against these diseases.

This vaccine works by exposing you to a small dose of the bacteria or a protein from the bacteria, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

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

Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking diphtheria, pertussis acellular, and tetanus vaccine (Tdap, adult)?

You should not receive this vaccine if you have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any vaccine containing diphtheria, pertussis, or tetanus, or if you have:

  • severe or uncontrolled epilepsy or other seizure disorder; or

  • if you have received cancer chemotherapy or radiation treatment in the past 3 months.

You may not be able to receive this vaccine if you have ever received a similar vaccine that caused any of the following:

  • a very high fever (over 104 degrees);

  • a neurologic disorder or disease affecting the brain;

  • fainting or going into shock;

  • seizure (convulsions); or

  • Guillain-Barré syndrome (within 6 weeks after receiving a vaccine containing tetanus).

Before receiving this vaccine, tell the doctor if you have:

  • a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia or easy bruising;

  • a history of seizures;

  • a neurologic disorder or disease affecting the brain (or if this was a reaction to a previous vaccine);

  • a weak immune system caused by disease, bone marrow transplant, or by using certain medicines or receiving cancer treatments;

  • if you are taking a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); or

  • if it has been less than 5 years since you last received a tetanus shot.

You can still receive a vaccine if you have a cold or fever. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you get better before receiving this vaccine.

FDA pregnancy category C. This vaccine may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant soon after receiving the vaccine.

It is not known whether Tdap vaccine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

The adult version of this vaccine (Adacel) should not be given to anyone under the age of 11 or over the age of 64. Another vaccine is available for use in children younger than 11 years old.

How should I take diphtheria, pertussis acellular, and tetanus vaccine (Tdap, adult)?

This vaccine is given as an injection (shot) into a muscle. You will receive this injection in a doctor’s office or other clinic setting.

In most cases, you will receive only one dose of the diphtheria, pertussis acellular, and tetanus vaccine. Follow your doctor’s instructions about receiving a booster dose if needed.

Your doctor may recommend treating fever and pain with an aspirin-free pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, and others) when the shot is given and for the next 24 hours. Follow the label directions or your doctor’s instructions about how much of this medicine to take.

It is especially important to prevent fever from occurring if you have a seizure disorder such as epilepsy.

What happens if I miss a dose of diphtheria, pertussis acellular, and tetanus vaccine (Tdap, adult)?

Since the Tdap vaccine is usually given only once, you may not be on a dosing schedule. Contact your doctor if you miss a recommended booster vaccine.

Where can I get more information about diphtheria, pertussis acellular, and tetanus vaccine (Tdap, adult)?
Your pharmacist has information about diphtheria, pertussis acellular, and tetanus vaccine (Tdap, adult) written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of diphtheria, pertussis acellular, and tetanus vaccine (Tdap, adult)?

You should not receive this vaccine a second time 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. If you ever have to receive another vaccine in the future, you will need to tell the doctor if the first shot caused any side effects.

Becoming infected with diphtheria, pertussis, or tetanus is much more dangerous to your health than receiving the vaccine to protect against these diseases. 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 any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • extreme drowsiness, fainting;

  • seizure (black-out or convulsions); or

  • high fever.

Less serious side effects include:

  • mild fever or chills;

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

  • headache or tiredness;

  • joint pain, body aches;

  • loss of appetite; or

  • mild nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What is the most important information I should know about diphtheria, pertussis acellular, and tetanus vaccine (Tdap, adult)?

In most cases, diphtheria, pertussis acellular, and tetanus vaccine is given in only one dose. Follow your doctor’s instructions about receiving a booster dose if needed.

You can still receive a vaccine if you have a cold or fever. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you get better before receiving this vaccine.

You should not receive this vaccine a second time 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. If you ever need to receive the vaccine again, you will need to tell your doctor if the first shot caused any side effects.

Becoming infected with diphtheria, pertussis, or tetanus is much more dangerous to your health than receiving the vaccine to protect against these diseases. Like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.

What should I avoid while taking diphtheria, pertussis acellular, and tetanus vaccine (Tdap, adult)?

There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity before or after receiving Tdap vaccine unless your doctor has told you otherwise.

What other drugs will affect diphtheria, pertussis acellular, and tetanus vaccine (Tdap, adult)?

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

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

  • an oral, nasal, inhaled, or injectable steroid medicine;

  • medications to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune disorders, such as azathioprine (Imuran), efalizumab (Raptiva), etanercept (Enbrel), leflunomide (Arava), and others; or

  • medicines to treat or prevent organ transplant rejection, such as basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf), muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf).

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.

There may be other drugs that can affect this vaccine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you have received. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What happens if I have an overdose of diphtheria, pertussis acellular, and tetanus vaccine (Tdap, adult)?

An overdose of Tdap vaccine is unlikely to occur.

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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