Lyme disease vaccine (recombinant ospa) (Intramuscular)

Lyme disease vaccine is a medicine that helps your body build protection against Lyme disease bacteria. It works by making your body produce its own antibodies against the bacteria.

Lyme disease can cause a rash, fever, weakness, and pain in your joints and muscles. The disease is caused by bacteria that are transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks.

You can reduce your risk of getting tick-borne infections by taking precautions such as wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, tucking pants into socks, treating clothing with tick repellent, and checking for and removing any attached ticks.

This medicine is no longer available for sale.

In deciding to use a vaccine, you and your doctor will weigh the risks of the vaccine against its benefits. For this vaccine, consider the following:

Allergies

Inform your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also, let your healthcare professional know if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Lyme disease vaccine has not been tested in individuals younger than 15 years of age. It is not recommended for infants and children.

Geriatric

Many medicines have not been specifically studied in older adults. Therefore, it may not be known if they work the same way as they do in younger adults. While there is no specific information comparing the use of Lyme disease vaccine in older people to other age groups, this vaccine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older adults than it does in younger adults.

Breast Feeding

Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be used together at all. In other cases, two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might happen. In these cases, your doctor may want to adjust the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Inform your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around meal times or with certain types of food due to possible interactions. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also lead to interactions. Discuss with your healthcare professional about using your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

Having other medical problems may affect the use of Lyme disease vaccine. Be sure to inform your doctor if you have any other medical issues.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may happen, if they do, they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

• Numbness
• tingling
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Less common

• Bone pain
• chills
• cough
• fever
• muscle aches
• runny or stuffy nose
• shivering
• skin rash, itching, redness, swelling, or other signs of irritation not present before vaccination
• sneezing
• sore throat
• sweating

Rare

• Difficulty swallowing
• dizziness
• fast heartbeat
• severe headache
• puffiness or swelling around eyelids
• shortness of breath

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue, are bothersome, or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Back pain
• pain in joints and/or muscles

Less common

• Depression
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• feeling unusually cold

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

This medication is not longer on the market