Meningococcal Polysaccharide Diphtheria Toxoid Conjugate Vaccine, Injection me-NINJ-oh-kok-kal pol-ee-SAK-a-ride dif-THEE-ree-a TOKS-oyd vak SEEN

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: vaccine

Generic and brand names: meningococcal polysaccharide diphtheria toxoid conjugate vaccine, injection; Menactra; Menveo; MCV4

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection (shots) to provide protection against certain types of meningitis in people from 2 to 55 years of age.

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

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine or vaccine
• an allergic reaction to latex or thimerosal (a preservative).
• a weakened immune system from diseases such as HIV/AIDS or from cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunosuppressants, or steroid medicine
• a bleeding disorder or if you take anticoagulant medicines
• Guillain-Barré syndrome (a nervous system disorder)

Females of childbearing age: Talk with 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 do I use it?

These shots are given by your healthcare provider. You will be protected against meningitis after 7 to 10 days.

If you are at high risk for infection and previously received a different meningitis vaccine, you may be given a booster shot of this vaccine after 5 years. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

What should I watch out for?

Your provider may give this vaccine at the same time as other vaccines. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

You may have mild problems such as soreness where the shot was given for 1 to 2 days after receiving this vaccine. Contact your healthcare provider if these symptoms last longer or if you feel worse.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you have received this medicine.

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; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Fever, chills, sudden and severe tiredness or weakness.

Other: Tenderness, pain, redness, or a lump on your skin where the shot was given; headache; tiredness; drowsiness; irritability; vomiting; joint pain; diarrhea; loss of appetite.

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:

• adalimumab (Humira) or infliximab (Remicade)
• anakinra (Kineret)
• corticosteroids such as cortisone, dexamethasone, fludrocortisone (Florinef), hydrocortisone (Cortef), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisolone (Prelone), prednisone, and triamcinolone (Aristospan, Kenalog, Atolone)
• immunosuppressants such as azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral), glatiramer (Copaxone), mycophenolate (CellCept), pimecrolimus (Elidel), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Prograf)
• medicines to treat cancer such as cisplatin, hydroxyurea (Hydrea), doxorubicin (Adriamycin), vinblastine, and vincristine
• radiation therapy

Keep a record of all vaccines received and when you received them.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. 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.