Boostrix
Generic Name:
Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Acellular Pertussis Booster Vaccine
Brand Names:
Boostrix, Adacel, Decavac, Td, Tdap
Boostrix Description:
Boostrix is a vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (whooping cough). The vaccination is also known as Tdap and is approved for use in those 10 to 64 years old. A trained health practitioner typically injects Boostrix into the arm or another muscle. Boostrix is used help the body fight against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis should a person come into contact with any of the diseases.
Boostrix Uses:
Boostrix is used to prevent the following three conditions:
- Diphtheria is a serious illness that can cause breathing difficulties, heart problems, nerve damage, pneumonia and possibly death. The risk of serious complications and death is greater in very young children and in the elderly.
- Tetanus (also known as lockjaw) is a serious illness that causes convulsions (seizures) and severe muscle spasms that can be strong enough to cause bone fractures of the spine. Tetanus causes death in 30 to 40 percent of cases.
- Pertussis (also known as whooping cough) is a serious disease that causes severe spells of coughing that can interfere with breathing. Pertussis also can cause pneumonia, long-lasting bronchitis, seizures, brain damage and death.
Boostrix aids in protection against diphtheria by developing neutralizing antibodies to the diphtheria toxin. The medication develops protection against tetanus by exposing the body to a small amount of bacteria, allowing the body to develop immunity against the condition. The means by which Boostrix develops protection against pertussis (whooping cough) is unclear.
Boostrix Interactions:
Immunosuppressive therapies, including irradiation, antimetabolites, alkylating agents, cytotoxic drugs and corticosteroids may alter the immune response to Boostrix.
Inform your doctor of any medications you are taking.
Boostrix Dosage Information:
Typical Dosage Recommendations
Boostrix is administered by a health care practitioner and is given as a single 0.5mL intramuscular injection into the deltoid muscle of the upper arm. Boostrix should not be administered for five years after the last dose.
Missing a Dose
Boostrix is given as a one-time treatment and thus there are no concerns for missing a dose. Five years should elapse between the last dose of the recommended series and another dose of Boostrix.
Overdosing
Boostrix is administered through a healthcare practitioner and thus overdose is highly unlikely. Seek emergency medical attention following an overdose of Boostrix.
Boostrix FDA Approval:
December 8, 2008
Boostrix Recall/Black Box Warning Information:
There are no recalls or Black Box warnings for Boostrix as of this time.
Other Warnings
If a patient has experienced Guillain-Barré syndrome (a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system) within six weeks or receiving prior vaccines containing tetanus toxoid, a doctor should weigh possible dangers associated with Boostrix against the benefits before administering the medication.
The medication may be deferred due to progressive or unstable neurological disorders including:
- Uncontrolled epilepsy
- Encephalopathy
- Cerebrovascular events
- Acute encephalopathic conditions
If a patient has experienced Arthus-type hypersensitivity (sever local reaction) to a prior dose of tetanus toxoid vaccine, Boostrix and other vaccines with tetanus toxoid should not be administered for 10 years after the other vaccine was given.
The tip cap and rubber plunger of the pre-filled syringes from which Boostrix is distributed contain latex. Patients with latex sensitivity may experience an allergic reaction.
Patients who have immunosuppression may not respond as expected to the Boostrix vaccine.
Doctors should review previous vaccine reactions to determine if any allergic reactions have occurred in the past.
-
July 30, 2010, 2:23 pm
-
July 30, 2010, 2:13 pm
-
July 29, 2010, 12:33 pm
-
July 28, 2010, 3:58 pm
