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What Causes Headache, Drowsiness And Upset Stomach After Rabipur Injections?
Question: Hi, I just completed 5 dose of rabipur injections following an unprovoked stray dog bite one month back. Now I am having headache, drousiness and upset stomach all the time and its not going away. I have become paranoid as I couldn't acerstain that if the dog was free from rabid. Am I protected? Please help. I can't sleep properly due to fear....I am getting psycho. :(
Brief Answer:
Post-exposure rabies prophylaxis
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns.
It appears that you have taken a course of post-exposure rabies prophylaxis with 5 doses of Inj Rabipur on days 0,3,7 and 14 and 28 days,though a fifth dose on day 28 is no longer recommended. This tissue culture vaccine is highly immunogenic and the neutralizing antibody response is so predictable that it need not normally be checked. In other words you are totally protected against rabies with additional booster dose(5th dose).
A stray dog for all practical purpose should be considered rabid and unprovoked bite goes in favor of that.
However you are now protected against rabies. Be assured.
You have not mentioned the nature of wound (e.g. bite,scratch-single,multiple) and part of the body bitten.Have you also taken Rabies immune globulin (RIG) ,as RIG neutralizes rabies virus during the first week after initial vaccination, before neutralizing antibody has appeared.
Regards
Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX
Post-exposure rabies prophylaxis
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns.
It appears that you have taken a course of post-exposure rabies prophylaxis with 5 doses of Inj Rabipur on days 0,3,7 and 14 and 28 days,though a fifth dose on day 28 is no longer recommended. This tissue culture vaccine is highly immunogenic and the neutralizing antibody response is so predictable that it need not normally be checked. In other words you are totally protected against rabies with additional booster dose(5th dose).
A stray dog for all practical purpose should be considered rabid and unprovoked bite goes in favor of that.
However you are now protected against rabies. Be assured.
You have not mentioned the nature of wound (e.g. bite,scratch-single,multiple) and part of the body bitten.Have you also taken Rabies immune globulin (RIG) ,as RIG neutralizes rabies virus during the first week after initial vaccination, before neutralizing antibody has appeared.
Regards
Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank you so much for your response sir. Actly, it was bitten in my left leg and there was a puncture in one place and scratches in two other places. I got the RIG immediately after the bite in that area.
However, ever since I started taking the rabipur dose my entire lifestyle has changed. I think I am too scared. Can rabipur vaccine cause long term headache and stomach upset??? My Dr has assured me that nothing will happen but m still paranoid. .I can't sleep properly and can't concentrate in anything. Please guide
However, ever since I started taking the rabipur dose my entire lifestyle has changed. I think I am too scared. Can rabipur vaccine cause long term headache and stomach upset??? My Dr has assured me that nothing will happen but m still paranoid. .I can't sleep properly and can't concentrate in anything. Please guide
Brief Answer:
Post-exposure rabies prophylaxis (passive & active immunization)
Detailed Answer:
Since you have taken also RIG immediately,it has ensured additional protection against rabies.
The bite is category III-hence combination of RIG (passive immunization) and vaccine (active immunization) are appropriate.
Tissue-culture vaccine like Inj Rabipur does not produce serious side-effects and certainly does not produce long-term headache and stomach upset.
You are having short of panic attack and undue fear about rabies unnecessarily,in spite of remaining fully immunized against rabies.
A small dose of benzodiazepines for example, alprazolam(0.25 mg ) or Clonazepam(0.5 mg) at bed-time will relive your anxiety and give you adequate sleep.You need to consult your doctor for anxiolytics as these are prescription drug.
Regards
Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX
Post-exposure rabies prophylaxis (passive & active immunization)
Detailed Answer:
Since you have taken also RIG immediately,it has ensured additional protection against rabies.
The bite is category III-hence combination of RIG (passive immunization) and vaccine (active immunization) are appropriate.
Tissue-culture vaccine like Inj Rabipur does not produce serious side-effects and certainly does not produce long-term headache and stomach upset.
You are having short of panic attack and undue fear about rabies unnecessarily,in spite of remaining fully immunized against rabies.
A small dose of benzodiazepines for example, alprazolam(0.25 mg ) or Clonazepam(0.5 mg) at bed-time will relive your anxiety and give you adequate sleep.You need to consult your doctor for anxiolytics as these are prescription drug.
Regards
Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank you sir. One last question. Can panic attack and anxiety cause headache and stomach upset?? and when I do get booster dose again in near future???
Brief Answer:
Stray dog bite and anxiety /phobia
Detailed Answer:
Panic attack / anxiety can be associated with gastrointestinal distress (stomach pain,dyspeptic symptoms etc)and tension headache.These are relieved with anxiolytics and PPI (proton pump inhibitors like pantoprazole) for a short course.
A booster doses is needed only when you have fresh exposure to rabid animals.However the treating physician will have to decide about the requirement.
For example:
Postexposure prophylaxis in people who have received previous vaccination:
If a complete pre- or postexposure course of a modern potent tissue-culture vaccine has been given, or if the neutralizing antibody level has been over 0.5 IU/ml, only two intramuscular doses of tissue-culture vaccine should be given on days 0 and 3.
Regards
Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX
Stray dog bite and anxiety /phobia
Detailed Answer:
Panic attack / anxiety can be associated with gastrointestinal distress (stomach pain,dyspeptic symptoms etc)and tension headache.These are relieved with anxiolytics and PPI (proton pump inhibitors like pantoprazole) for a short course.
A booster doses is needed only when you have fresh exposure to rabid animals.However the treating physician will have to decide about the requirement.
For example:
Postexposure prophylaxis in people who have received previous vaccination:
If a complete pre- or postexposure course of a modern potent tissue-culture vaccine has been given, or if the neutralizing antibody level has been over 0.5 IU/ml, only two intramuscular doses of tissue-culture vaccine should be given on days 0 and 3.
Regards
Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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