Engerix-B and Thyrogen

• Generic Name: hepatitis b adult vaccine
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Engerix-B, Recombivax HB Adult, Recombivax HB Dialysis Formulation, Heplisav-B

Engerix-B vaccine is used to help prevent hepatitis B in adults.

Hepatitis is a serious disease caused by a virus. Hepatitis causes inflammation of the liver, and may cause vomiting, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Hepatitis can lead to liver cancer, cirrhosis, or death. Hepatitis can also cause no symptoms.

Hepatitis B is a disease of the liver that is spread through blood or bodily fluids, sexual contact or sharing IV drug needles with an infected person, or during childbirth when the mother is infected.

Engerix-B works by exposing you to a small amount of the virus, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. Engerix-B will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

Vaccination with hepatitis B adult vaccine is recommended for all adults who are at risk of getting hepatitis B. Risk factors include: having more than one sex partner; being a homosexual male; having sexual contact with infected people; having chronic liver disease; having diabetes and being under age 60; having HIV or AIDS; using intravenous (IV) drugs; being on dialysis or receiving blood transfusions; working in an institution for developmentally disabled patients; working in healthcare or public safety and being exposed to human blood; being in the military or traveling to high-risk areas; and living with a person who has hepatitis B.

Like any vaccine, the Engerix-B may not provide protection from disease in every person.

• Generic Name: thyrotropin alpha
• Dosage Forms: injection, powder, for solution
• Other Brand Names: Thyrogen

Thyrogen is a manmade form of a protein similar to thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which is normally produced by your thyroid. This medicine keeps your TSH levels steady while you undergo thyroid tests or treatments that can reduce TSH and cause symptoms of low thyroid (hypothyroidism).

Thyrogen is used together with radioactive iodine ablation (a procedure to remove thyroid tissue that was not removed with surgery) in people with thyroid cancer.

Thyrogen is also used during medical testing to check for certain types of thyroid cancer that has returned after treatment. This medicine may not help your doctor find all signs of cancer, and there is still a chance that some of your cancer could be missed.

Thyrogen will not treat cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

Thyrogen may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.