Is it safe to take antibiotics after getting vaccinated?
February 24, 2018 10:49 AM Subscribe
Is it safe to take antibiotics after getting vaccinated?
In preparation for an upcoming trip (yay!) I received yellow fever and hepatitis shots 5 days ago. I now have an infected gum and have been prescribed antibiotics for it. Before I go trying to track down my doctor does anyone know if there is a possible interaction risk?
In preparation for an upcoming trip (yay!) I received yellow fever and hepatitis shots 5 days ago. I now have an infected gum and have been prescribed antibiotics for it. Before I go trying to track down my doctor does anyone know if there is a possible interaction risk?
In addition to being an expert on this topic who should be available on the phone within a 10 minute wait, your pharmacist also knows exactly what antibiotic you've been proscribed, unlike us.
posted by SaltySalticid at 11:39 AM on February 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by SaltySalticid at 11:39 AM on February 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
Yes it is safe to take antibiotics in this situation.
posted by eglenner at 2:04 PM on February 24, 2018
posted by eglenner at 2:04 PM on February 24, 2018
Nthing to talk with your pharmacist. The following isn't medical advice.
Antibiotics work by killing or inhibiting bacteria in some way directly, so that your immune system has less work it needs to do to repel the infection. Vaccines work by introducing some sort of agent (usually derived from an inactive or weakened disease-carrying pathogen) to your immune system which allows your immune system to develop a faster-acting immune response in case you're exposed to the normal form of the pathogen. In general, they shouldn't interfere with each other.
posted by Aleyn at 3:06 PM on February 24, 2018
Antibiotics work by killing or inhibiting bacteria in some way directly, so that your immune system has less work it needs to do to repel the infection. Vaccines work by introducing some sort of agent (usually derived from an inactive or weakened disease-carrying pathogen) to your immune system which allows your immune system to develop a faster-acting immune response in case you're exposed to the normal form of the pathogen. In general, they shouldn't interfere with each other.
posted by Aleyn at 3:06 PM on February 24, 2018
Some vaccinations are against a virus (hepatitis, Measles) instead of a bacteria, but I agree with Aleyn above that even if your vaccines were against a bacterial disease antibiotics wouldn't interfere. Prevention (vaccine) is not the same as treatment (antibiotic) and they target completely different systems, vaccines the immune system, and the other the bacteria itself.
posted by citygirl at 5:36 PM on February 24, 2018
posted by citygirl at 5:36 PM on February 24, 2018
It's safe.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 11:32 PM on February 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by treehorn+bunny at 11:32 PM on February 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
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posted by PorcineWithMe at 10:54 AM on February 24, 2018 [7 favorites]