BCG Vaccine, Percutaneous

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: vaccine

Generic and brand names: BCG vaccine, percutaneous; Bacillus of Calmette and Guérin

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection (shots) to give you protection against tuberculosis (TB).

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had an allergic reaction to this type of vaccine. If you have a reaction (hives, skin rash, itching, tightness in your chest, trouble breathing), contact your healthcare provider right away.

Before receiving this vaccine, tell your healthcare provider if you:

• are allergic to any medicine
• have a weakened immune system from diseases such as HIV/AIDS, leukemia, lymphoma, or tuberculosis, or from cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or steroid medicine, leukemia, lymphoma, or tuberculosis
• have a fever or infection
• have recently had surgery.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How should I use it?

This medicine must be given by your healthcare provider.

What should I watch out for?

It is normal for your skin to form small red bumps or scabs 10 to 14 days after you get the injection. Keep this area clean. The scab will heal in 4 to 6 weeks.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you are unable to reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives, rash, itching, tightness in your chest, trouble breathing).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Fever, chills, headache, new cough, swollen lymph nodes, peeling or scaly skin, bone or joint pain, pus coming from the injection site.

Other: Mild skin irritation where the shot was given.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antimicrobial medicines, including many antibiotics.
• antituberculosis medicines such as rifampin (Rifadin) and isoniazid (Nydrazid)
• corticosteroids such as prednisone (Orasone), prednisolone (Pediapred, Inflamase, Econopred) triamcinolone (Aristocort, Kenalog), and dexamethasone (Hexadrol)
• immunosuppressive medicines such as cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone), mycophenolate (CellCept), tacrolimus (Prograf), and azathioprine (Imuran)
• live virus vaccines.

Also, radiation treatments may interfere with your response to this vaccine. Be sure your healthcare provider knows about all medicines you are taking and all treatments you are receiving.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.