Pronunciation: hep-ah-TY-tiss
Generic Name: Hepatitis B Vaccine (Recombinant)
Brand Name: Examples include Engerix-B and Recombivax HB
Recombivax HB is used for:
Preventing hepatitis B infection.
Recombivax HB is a vaccine. It works by stimulating the body to produce antibodies against hepatitis B infection.
Do NOT use Recombivax HB if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Recombivax HB, including yeast
- you have had an allergic reaction to a hepatitis B vaccine in the past
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Recombivax HB:
Tell your health care provider if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you are allergic to latex
- if you have a weakened immune system, heart or lung disease, a fever, an infection, an illness, a tumor, or multiple sclerosis
- if you are on dialysis, you have or might have been recently exposed to hepatitis B, or if you have traveled to areas that are high-risk for hepatitis B
- if the patient is a premature infant
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Recombivax HB. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
- Immunosuppressive therapy (eg, cyclosporine) because it may decrease Recombivax HB's effectiveness
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Recombivax HB may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Recombivax HB:
Use Recombivax HB as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- Recombivax HB is usually given as an injection at your doctor's office, hospital, or clinic. Contact your health care provider if you have any questions.
- If you miss a dose of Recombivax HB, contact your doctor right away.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Recombivax HB.
Important safety information:
- Recombivax HB has noninfectious hepatitis B antigens in it. It cannot cause you to develop the hepatitis B infection.
- Before receiving this vaccine, tell your doctor about any illnesses you may have or if you are sick.
- For Recombivax HB to be effective, you must complete all doses. It is best to begin the vaccinations 6 months before travel, if possible, if that is the reason for receiving the vaccination.
- Contact your doctor at once if you are exposed to the virus through blood, a human bite, or sexual contact.
- The length of protection against the virus from Recombivax HB is not known, nor is it a guarantee that the vaccine will protect you from the hepatitis B virus.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Recombivax HB during pregnancy. It is unknown if Recombivax HB is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using Recombivax HB, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.
Possible side effects of Recombivax HB:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Diarrhea; dizziness; fatigue; general feeling of discomfort; headache; irritability; loss of appetite; mild fever or sore throat; nausea; pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site; runny nose; tiredness; weakness.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; severe or persistent dizziness; unusual bruising or bleeding.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Recombivax HB side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately.
Proper storage of Recombivax HB:Recombivax HB is usually handled and stored by a health care provider. If you are using Recombivax HB at home, store Recombivax HB as directed by your pharmacist or health care provider. Keep Recombivax HB out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Recombivax HB, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Recombivax HB is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Recombivax HB. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
Issue Date: February 1, 2012
Database Edition 12.1.1.002
Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
More Recombivax HB resources
- Recombivax HB Side Effects (in more detail)
- Recombivax HB Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Recombivax HB Drug Interactions
- Recombivax HB Support Group
- 0 Reviews for Recombivax HB - Add your own review/rating
- Recombivax HB Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Recombivax HB Concise Consumer Information (Cerner Multum)
- Engerix-B Pediatric Concise Consumer Information (Cerner Multum)
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