Rotateq

Rotateq

Generic Name: rotavirus oral vaccine, live (oral) (ROE ta vye ris VAX een)

Brand Names: Rotarix, RotaTeq

What is Rotateq?

Rotateq (rotavirus oral vaccine) contains up to five strains of rotavirus. It is made from both human and animal sources.

Infection with rotavirus can affect the digestive system of babies and young children, causing severe stomach or intestinal illness.

Rotateq is used to help prevent this disease in children.

Rotateq works by exposing your child to a small dose of the virus, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. Rotateq will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

Rotateq is for use in children between the ages of 6 weeks and 32 weeks old.

Like any vaccine, Rotateq may not provide protection from disease in every person.

Important information about Rotateq

Your child should not receive Rotateq if he or she has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a rotavirus oral vaccine, or if the child has severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID).

Your child can still receive Rotateq vaccine if he or she has a minor cold. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until the child gets better before receiving Rotateq.

Before your child receives Rotateq, tell the doctor if your child has recently had a fever. Also tell the doctor if anyone living with or caring for the child has cancer or a weak immune system, or is receiving treatments that can weaken the immune system (such as radiation, chemotherapy, or steroids).

Always wash your hands after handling the diapers of a child who has been given Rotateq. Small amounts of the virus may be passed in the child's stool and could possibly infect others who come into contact with the child's stool.

Keep track of any and all side effects your child has after receiving Rotateq. When the child receives a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous dose caused any side effects.

Be sure your child receives all recommended doses of Rotateq. Your child may not be protected from rotavirus if the doses aren't given within 4 to 10 weeks of each other, or if the child does not receive the full series of Rotateq vaccine doses.

Avoid receiving the doses of Rotateq in different clinics or from different doctors. Your child should receive the same brand of rotavirus oral vaccine for all doses given. Different brands of this vaccine may not have the same dosing or booster schedule. Call your doctor as soon as possible if your child (after receiving Rotateq) has stomach pain or bloating, vomiting (especially if it is golden-brown to green in color), bloody stools, grunting or excessive crying, and eventually weakness and shallow breathing.

Becoming infected with rotavirus is much more dangerous to your child's health than receiving a Rotateq vaccine. However, like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.

Before receiving Rotateq

Your child should not receive Rotateq if he or she has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a rotavirus oral vaccine, or if the child has severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID).

If your child has any of these other conditions, Rotateq may need to be postponed or not given at all:

HIV or AIDS;

a current stomach illness or diarrhea;

a congenital stomach disorder or recent stomach surgery;

leukemia or other blood disease;

if the child is allergic to latex rubber; or

if the child has recently received a blood transfusion.

Your child can still receive Rotateq vaccine if he or she has a minor cold. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until the child gets better before receiving Rotateq.

Tell the doctor if anyone living with or caring for the child has cancer or a weak immune system, or is receiving treatments that can weaken the immune system (such as radiation, chemotherapy, or steroids).

Rotateq may cause an intestinal problem called intussusception (in-tuh-suh-SEP-shun) in some people. Intussusception is when a section of the intestine folds over into itself, creating an obstruction in the bowel. Call your doctor as soon as possible if your child has stomach pain or bloating, vomiting (especially if it is golden-brown to green in color), bloody stools, grunting or excessive crying, and eventually weakness and shallow breathing.

How is Rotateq given?

Your child will receive the Rotateq vaccine in a clinic, hospital, or doctor's office. Rotateq is given as an oral (by mouth) liquid.

RotaTeq vaccine is given in a series of 3 doses. The first dose is usually given when the child is 6 to 12 weeks old. The booster doses are then given at 4-week to 10-week intervals before the child reaches 32 weeks of age.

Your child's booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by your local health department.

Tell your doctor if your child spits up or vomits within 1 or 2 hours after receiving Rotateq. The child may need to receive a replacement dose to be fully protected from rotavirus. Always wash your hands after handling the diapers of a child who has been given Rotateq. Small amounts of the virus may be passed in the child's stool and could possibly infect others who come into contact with the child's stool.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Contact your doctor if you miss a booster dose or if you get behind schedule. Your child may not be protected from rotavirus if the doses aren't given within 10 weeks of each other. Be sure your child receives all recommended doses of Rotateq.

What happens if I overdose?

An overdose of this vaccine is unlikely to occur.

What should I avoid after receiving Rotateq?

Avoid receiving the doses of Rotateq in different clinics or from different doctors. Your child should receive the same brand of rotavirus oral vaccine for all doses given. Different brands of this vaccine may not have the same dosing or booster schedule.

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

Rotateq side effects

Keep track of any and all side effects your child has after receiving Rotateq. When the child receives a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous dose caused any side effects. Becoming infected with rotavirus is much more dangerous to your child's health than receiving Rotateq. However, like any medicine, Rotateq can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.

Get emergency medical help if your child has any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Rotateq: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if the child has a serious side effect such as:

seizure (black-out or convulsions);

severe or ongoing diarrhea;

dark red stools;

fever, chills, cough with yellow or green mucus;

stabbing chest pain, chest tightness, wheezing, feeling short of breath;

stomach pain, weakness, loss of appetite, vomiting;

ear pain, swelling, or drainage;

runny or stuffy nose, sore throat;

pain or burning when you urinate; or

high fever, redness of the skin or eyes, swollen hands, peeling skin rash, chapped or cracked lips.

Other less serious side effects from using Rotateq are more likely to occur, such as crying or mild irritability.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report vaccine side effects to the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-822-7967.

See also: Rotateq side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Rotateq?

Before receiving this vaccine, tell the doctor about all other vaccines your child has received.

Also tell the doctor if your child has recently received drugs or treatments that can weaken the immune system, including:

an oral, nasal, inhaled, or injectable steroid medicine;

chemotherapy or radiation;

medications to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune disorders, such as azathioprine (Imuran), efalizumab (Raptiva), etanercept (Enbrel), leflunomide (Arava), and others; or

medicines to treat or prevent organ transplant rejection, such as basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf), muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf).

If your child is using any of these medications, he or she may not be able to receive the vaccine, or may need to wait until the other treatments are finished.

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with this vaccine. Tell your doctor about all medications your child receives. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

More Rotateq resources

Rotateq Side Effects (in More Detail)

Rotateq Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Rotateq Drug Interactions

Rotateq Support Group

0 Reviews for Rotateq - Add your own review/rating

Rotateq Prescribing Information (FDA)

RotaTeq Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information

RotaTeq MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Rotarix Prescribing Information (FDA)

Rotarix MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Rotavirus Vaccine Live Oral Monograph (AHFS DI)

Compare Rotateq with other medications

Gastroenteritis

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about Rotateq. Additional information is available from your local health department or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.