Bexsero interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

Before you receive Bexsero, tell your doctor and pharmacist which prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Bexsero interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Bexsero and other interactions” section below.)

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Here’s a table of drugs that can interact with Bexsero. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Bexsero. Some of these interactions are described in detail just below in “Drug interactions in depth.”

* For details about this interaction, see the “Drug interactions in depth” section below.

In some cases, factors or conditions could prevent your doctor from prescribing Bexsero due to the risk of harm. These are known as contraindications. The contraindications of Bexsero include:

Having had an allergic reaction to Bexsero or any of its ingredients

Bexsero is a vaccine used to help prevent meningitis B, a type of bacterial meningitis. If you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to Bexsero or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Bexsero. Receiving Bexsero could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.

Note: Before you receive Bexsero, it’s important to tell your doctor if this contraindication applies to you. They can determine whether to prescribe Bexsero.

There are no known interactions between Bexsero and alcohol.

If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Bexsero, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Here’s a closer look at certain drug interactions of Bexsero.

Certain monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies are medications prescribed to treat many different conditions. Examples include cancers and autoimmune conditions, such as multiple sclerosis. (A monoclonal antibody is a lab-made protein. It’s made to produce a specific response in the body’s immune system.)

Interaction result: Receiving Bexsero injections during treatment with certain monoclonal antibodies could make Bexsero less effective.

Interaction explained: Bexsero is a vaccine prescribed to help prevent meningitis B. It works by teaching your immune system to kill bacteria that cause meningitis B if you’re exposed to them.

Certain monoclonal antibodies may weaken your immune system. If you receive Bexsero while taking these medications, the vaccine may not work as well to protect against meningitis B.

Examples of monoclonal antibody drugs: Here are some monoclonal antibodies that may interact with Bexsero:

• ocrelizumab (Ocrevus)
• ofatumumab (Arzerra)
• satralizumab (Enspryng)
• ublituximab (Briumvi)

Steps you or your doctor may take: Your doctor may recommend receiving Bexsero at least 2 weeks before starting treatment with certain monoclonal antibodies.

Before receiving Bexsero, tell your doctor about other medications you take. They’ll recommend whether it’s safe to receive the vaccine while taking these medications.

Siponimod

Siponimod (Mayzent) is prescribed to treat clinically isolated syndrome and certain types of multiple sclerosis.

Interaction result: Receiving Bexsero while taking Mayzent could make Bexsero less effective.

Interaction explained: Bexsero is prescribed to help prevent meningitis B. It’s a vaccine that works by teaching your immune system to fight against bacteria that cause meningitis B.

Mayzent treatment may weaken your immune system. Receiving Bexsero while taking this drug could prevent Bexsero from working as well to protect against meningitis B.

Steps you or your doctor may take: If possible, it’s best to receive Bexsero at least 2 weeks before starting Mayzent.

Be sure to tell your doctor about other medications you take before receiving Bexsero. They’ll tell you whether it’s safe to receive this vaccine.

Deucravacitinib

Doctors may prescribe deucravacitinib (Sotyktu) to treat plaque psoriasis.

Interaction result: Bexsero may be less effective if it’s given during Sotyktu treatment.

Interaction explained: Bexsero works to prevent meningitis B by teaching your immune system to fight against the bacteria that cause the disease.

Because of the way Sotyktu works, it may weaken your immune system. Bexsero may not work as well as usual if you receive it during Sotyktu treatment. This means you may have an increased risk of developing meningitis B if you’re exposed to the bacteria that cause it.

Steps you or your doctor may take: Your doctor may advise you to get Bexsero at least 2 weeks before starting Sotyktu.

Before you receive Bexsero, talk with your doctor about other medications you take. They’ll recommend whether you should receive this vaccine.

Bexsero may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, other vaccines, or even lab tests. You’ll find details below. Keep in mind that the following information does not include all other possible interactions with Bexsero.

Note: Bexsero is a vaccine prescribed to help prevent meningitis B.

Bexsero and supplements

It’s possible for drugs to interact with supplements such as vitamins and herbs.

Bexsero and herbs

There are no specific reports of herbs interacting with Bexsero. However, that doesn’t mean herbal interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products when you receive Bexsero.

Bexsero and vitamins

There are no specific reports of vitamins interacting with Bexsero. However, that doesn’t mean vitamin interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamin product when you receive Bexsero.

Bexsero and food

There were no reports of food interactions with Bexsero. If you’d like to learn more about eating certain foods when you receive Bexsero, talk with your doctor.

Bexsero and vaccines

There aren’t any known interactions between Bexsero and other vaccines. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see whether you’re due for any vaccines. They’ll tell you whether receiving other vaccines during the same visit is safe.

Bexsero and lab tests

Bexsero isn’t known to interact with any lab tests. If you have concerns about this vaccine interacting with lab tests, talk with your doctor.

BEXSERO INTERACTION WITH CANNABIS OR CBD

Cannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have not been specifically reported to interact with Bexsero. However, as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis in combination with Bexsero. The impact of cannabis may affect how well you stick to your Bexsero vaccine schedule.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.

Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Bexsero. Before you receive this vaccine, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Bexsero may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Health conditions or factors that might interact with Bexsero include:

• Weakened immune system: Before receiving Bexsero, tell your doctor if you have a weakened immune system. With low immune system function, Bexsero may not work as well to help prevent meningitis B. Your doctor can tell you whether Bexsero is the right vaccine option.
• Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Bexsero or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Bexsero. Receiving the vaccine could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
• Breastfeeding: It’s not known whether it’s safe to receive Bexsero while breastfeeding. There isn’t enough information to determine whether the vaccine passes into breast milk or what effects Bexsero may have on a child who is breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before receiving this vaccine.
• Pregnancy: There haven’t been enough clinical trials to determine whether receiving Bexsero while pregnant is safe. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, tell your doctor before receiving this vaccine.

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Bexsero. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so reach out to them before starting treatment. For example, you should plan to do the following:

• Let them know if you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
• Tell them about any other medications you take, as well as any supplements, herbs, and vitamins.
• Create a medication list, which your doctor and pharmacist can help you fill out.

It’s also important to read the Bexsero label and other paperwork that may come with the vaccine. The label may have colored stickers that mention an interaction. And the paperwork, sometimes called the medication guide or patient package insert, may contain details about interactions.

If Bexsero doesn’t come with paperwork, you can ask your pharmacist to print a copy. If you need help reading or understanding this information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Besides learning about interactions, you may want to find out more about Bexsero. These resources might help:

• Overview of Bexsero: For a general overview of Bexsero, you can see this article.
• Side effects: If you’re interested in the side effects of Bexsero, see this article. Another option is to refer to the Bexsero prescribing information.
• Dosage specifics: To learn about the dosage of Bexsero, see this article.
• Facts about meningitis: To learn more about this condition, see our list of articles on:
  • infectious diseases, bacteria, and viruses
  • the immune system and vaccines

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.