Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

How is Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed?[edit | edit source]

  • Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed (Biothrax) is a vaccine used for the prevention of disease caused by Bacillus anthracis.
Bacillus anthracis
Bacillus anthracis CDC 17097

What are the uses of this medicine?[edit | edit source]

Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed (Biothrax) is a vaccine licensed by the FDA to protect against anthrax disease in persons 18 through 65 years of age:

  • It can be used before exposure to anthrax to protect people at high risk of getting the disease.
  • It can be used after exposure to anthrax, along with antibiotics, to protect people from getting the disease.
  • BioThrax may not protect all people who get the vaccine.
  • How well BioThrax works when given after exposure to anthrax has been studied only in animals. It has not been studied in humans because there are not enough people who get the disease naturally, and it is not ethical to expose people to anthrax on purpose to find out how well BioThrax works.


How does this medicine work?[edit | edit source]

  • Anthrax is a zoonotic disease caused by the Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis.
  • BioThrax induces antibodies raised against PA that may contribute to protection by neutralizing the activities of the cytotoxic lethal toxin and edema toxin of Bacillus anthracis.
  • Bacillus anthracis proteins other than PA may be present in BioThrax, but their contribution to protection has not been determined.


Who Should Not Use this medicine ?[edit | edit source]

This medicine cannot be used in patients:

  • with a history of anaphylactic or anaphylactic-like reaction following a previous dose of BioThrax or any component of the vaccine, including aluminum, benzethonium chloride, and formaldehyde.


What drug interactions can this medicine cause?[edit | edit source]

  • The safety and efficacy of concomitant administration of BioThrax with other licensed vaccines has not been evaluated. BioThrax should not be mixed with any other vaccine in the same syringe or vial.
  • Immunosuppressive therapies, including chemotherapy, corticosteroids (used in high-doses longer than 2 weeks), and radiation therapy may reduce the response of BioThrax.


Is this medicine FDA approved?[edit | edit source]

  • AVA originated in studies done in the 1950s and was first licensed for use in humans in 1970.


How should this medicine be used?[edit | edit source]

Recommended dosage:

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis:

Schedule Route of Administration Dosing Schedule
Primary Series Intramuscular 0,1, and 6 months
Booster Series Intramuscular 6 and 12 months after completion of the primary
series and at 12-month
intervals thereafter


Post-Exposure Prophylaxis:

Schedule Route of Administration Dosing Schedule
Primary Series Intramuscular 0, 2, and 4 weeks post-exposure combined with antimicrobial therapy


Administration:

  • BioThrax is given as a shot in your arm.
  • After getting the first shot, you should come back for the next shots on the schedule given to you by your health care provider. It is important that you get all your shots to get the best protection.
  • If you get BioThrax because you may have been exposed to anthrax, it is important that you also take antibiotics for 60 days.


What are the dosage forms and brand names of this medicine?[edit | edit source]

This medicine is available in fallowing doasage form:

  • As Suspension for injection (0.5 mL dose) in 5 mL multidose vials

This medicine is available in fallowing brand namesː

  • BioThrax


What side effects can this medication cause?[edit | edit source]

The most common side effects of this medicine include:


What special precautions should I follow?[edit | edit source]

  • Acute allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, have occurred with BioThrax. Appropriate medical treatment and supervision must be available to manage possible anaphylactic reactions following administration of the vaccine.
  • The stopper of the vial contains natural rubber latex and may cause allergic reactions to patients with a possible history of latex sensitivity.
  • BioThrax can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to a fetus.
  • History of anthrax disease may increase the potential for severe local adverse reactions.
  • If BioThrax is administered to immunocompromised persons, including those receiving immunosuppressive therapy, the immune response may be diminished.
  • Vaccination with BioThrax may not protect all individuals.


What to do in case of emergency/overdose?[edit | edit source]

  • In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline of your country. In the United States, call 1-800-222-1222.


Can this medicine be used in pregnancy?[edit | edit source]

  • BioThrax can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman.
  • If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to a fetus.
  • Weigh the potential benefits of vaccination against the potential risk to the fetus.
  • Healthcare practitioners are encouraged to register women who receive BioThrax during pregnancy in Emergent’s vaccination pregnancy registry by calling 1-619-553-9255.
  • Pregnancy Category D.


Can this medicine be used in children?[edit | edit source]

  • Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established for BioThrax.


What are the active and inactive ingredients in this medicine?[edit | edit source]

  • BioThrax does not contain live bacteria. BioThrax contains non-infectious proteins, aluminum hydroxide, benzothonium chloride and formaldehyde (as preservatives).
  • The vial stopper contains natural rubber latex.


Who manufactures and distributes this medicine?[edit | edit source]

  • Manufactured by Emergent BioDefense Operations Lansing LLC
  • Lansing, MI , US


What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?[edit | edit source]

  • Store at 2 °C to 8 °C (36 °F to 46 °F).
  • Do not freeze.
  • Do not use BioThrax after the expiration date printed on the label.
  • The stopper of the vial contains natural rubber latex and may cause allergic reactions in latex sensitive individuals.


Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed Resources
Doctor showing form.jpg

Translate to: East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski

Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.