What is this medicine?
HEPATITIS B VACCINE (hep uh TAHY tis B vak SEEN) is a vaccine. It is used to prevent from an infection with the hepatitis B virus.
This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
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What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
- allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
- breathing problems
- confused, irritated
- fast, irregular heartbeat
- flu-like syndrome
- numb, tingling pain
- seizures
- unusually weak or tired
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
- diarrhea
- fever
- headache
- loss of appetite
- muscle pain
- nausea
- pain, redness, swelling, or irritation at site where injected
- tiredness
This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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How should I use this medicine?
This vaccine is for injection into a muscle. It is given by a health care professional.
A copy of Vaccine Information Statements will be given before each vaccination. Read this sheet carefully each time. The sheet may change frequently.
Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. While this drug may be prescribed for children as young as newborn for selected conditions, precautions do apply.
Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.
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What if I miss a dose?
It is important not to miss your dose. Call your doctor or health care professional if you are unable to keep an appointment.
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What may interact with this medicine?
- medicines that suppress your immune function like adalimumab, anakinra, infliximab
- medicines to treat cancer
- steroid medicines like prednisone or cortisone
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
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Who should NOT use this medication?
Monovalent HepB Vaccine (HepB; Engerix-B®, Recombivax HB®)
- Hypersensitivity to any ingredient in the vaccine (including yeast).
- Previous hypersensitivity to any HepB vaccine.
Fixed-combination Vaccine Containing Hib vaccine and HepB Vaccine (Hib-HepB; Comvax®)
- Hypersensitivity to any vaccine component (including yeast).
Fixed-combination Vaccine Containing DTaP, HepB, and IPV Vaccines (DTaP-Hib-HepB; Pediarix®)
- Hypersensitivity to any ingredient in the vaccine (e.g., yeast, neomycin, polymyxin B).
- Serious allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) temporally associated with a previous dose of the vaccine or any vaccine component.
- Encephalopathy (e.g., coma, decreased consciousness, prolonged seizures) within 7 days of a previous dose of vaccine containing pertussis antigens that is not attributed to another identifiable cause.
- Progressive neurologic disorder, including infantile spasms, uncontrolled epilepsy, or progressive encephalopathy.
Fixed-combination Vaccine Containing HepA Vaccine and HepB Vaccine (HepA-HepB; Twinrix®)
- Hypersensitivity to any ingredient in the formulation, including the HepA vaccine component (Havrix®), the HepB vaccine component (Engerix-B®), yeast, or neomycin.
- Previous hypersensitivity reaction to Twinrix® or monovalent HepA or HepB vaccines.
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What should I watch for while using this medicine?
See your health care provider for all shots of this vaccine as directed. You must have 3 shots of this vaccine for protection from hepatitis B infection. Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious or unusual side effects after getting this vaccine.
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What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
- fever, infection
- heart disease
- hepatitis B infection
- immune system problems
- kidney disease
- an unusual or allergic reaction to vaccines, yeast, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
- pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- breast-feeding
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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.
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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.
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Where can I get more information?
More Information
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