BCG Vaccine, Percutaneous

Type of medicine: vaccine

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

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

Tell your health care 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 health care provider right away.

Before receiving this vaccine, tell your health care provider if you:

• are allergic to any medicine
• are receiving chemotherapy or radiation
• are taking corticosteroids
• have AIDS, leukemia, lymphoma, or tuberculosis
• have a fever or infection
• have recently had surgery.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your health care provider's approval.

This medicine must be given by your health care provider.

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.

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 health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your health care provider right away. If you are unable to reach your health care 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 health care provider right away): Fever, chills, headache, new cough, swollen lymph nodes, peeling or scaly skin, pus coming from the injection site.

Other: Mild skin irritation where the shot was given.

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 health care provider if you are taking:

• antimicrobial medicines, including many antibiotics.
• corticosteroids such as prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), prednisolone (Pediapred, Inflamase, Econopred) triamcinolone (Aristocort, Kenalog), and dexamethasone (Decadron, 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 health care 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 health care 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 health care 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.