General Information on Engerix B
Engerix-B is a vaccine for the treatment of medical conditions caused by all known subtypes of the hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis B virus infections can lead to serious medical conditions like chronic active hepatitis and acute massive hepatic necrosis. When Engerix-B is injected into the body, it exposes the patient to the virus, which helps the person develop immunity against the disease. Engerix-B cannot be administered if a patient is already infected with the hepatitis B virus. It is recommended for adults as well as children, and you can buy Engerix-B only if it is prescribed by your doctor.
Side effects of Engerix B
Engerix-B is reported to bring about certain side effects in adults and children. One of the most common and severe side effects is apnea in premature infants. If premature infants are administered Engerix-B as intramuscular vaccination, it can cause apnea, which can even lead to death in some cases.
Some of the most commonly reported side effects of Engerix-B include mild nervous system disorders like headache, somnolence, tingling, and dizziness, upper respiratory tract illness, blood and lymphatic system disorders like lymphadenopathy, metabolic and nutrition disorders like anorexia, psychiatric disorders like agitation and insomnia, vascular disorders like flushing and hypotension, gastrointestinal disorders like constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramps, nausea, and vomiting, skin or tissue disorders like petechiae, erythema, pruritus, sweating, rash, and urticaria, and connective tissue or musculoskeletal disorders like back pain, arthralgia, stiffness in the arms, myalgia, and pain in the neck and shoulder.
Some of the general side effects of Engerix-B include injection site ecchymosis, injection site pruritus, irritability, influenza-like symptoms, weakness, malaise, and chills.
Precautions
You should buy Engerix-B only if prescribed because the vaccine is not potent if you are already suffering from hepatitis B. Hepatitis B vaccines are not recommended by doctors for infants or children weighing less than 2 kilos, especially if the mother is hepatitis B negative. Unless there is an immediate risk of hepatitis B infection, patients already suffering from a moderate or severe acute illness should not be inoculated with Engerix-B. It should also not be administered to immunocompromised patients as they already have a weak immune system.
Engerix B Dosage
Engerix-B is available as a prefilled syringe of 0.5mL, 1mL, and 2mL size. The recommended dosage for infants born to hepatitis B negative and positive mothers is Engerix-B 0.5mL and it needs to be administered in the 1st and 6th month. Children up to 10 years of age and adolescents and teens between the ages of 11 to 19 should be administered 0.5mL doses in the 1st and 6th month. Adults who are 20 years of age or older should be administered Engerix-B 1mL in the 1st and 6th month, while those on hemodialysis should be administered Engerix-B 2mL in the 1st, 2nd, and 6th month.
Interactions
Engerix-B is not known to react with other medicines, but doctors advise that a patient not be inoculated during a pregnancy or while breastfeeding. It should also not be administered alongside immune globulin.
Pharmacist Notes: Engerix vaccines are stable for 7 days at 113 degrees F.
