Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP
Nabi-HB Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (Human) is made from human plasma used to prevent hepatitis B in people receiving a liver transplant, and in babies born to mothers infected with hepatitis B. Nabi-HB is also used to prevent hepatitis B in people who have been exposed to contaminated blood products, or through household or sexual contact with an infected person. Nabi-HB is not a vaccine and will not provide long-term protection from hepatitis B. For long-term protection you must receive a hepatitis B vaccine such as Engerix-B, Recombivax HB, or Twinrix. Nabi-HB is available in generic form. Common side effects of Nabi-HB include:
- injection site reactions (redness, pain, or tenderness)
- nausea
- vomiting
- upset stomach
- diarrhea
- fever
- chills
- dizziness
- headache
- back or joint pain
- tremors or shaking, or t
- iredness
An injection of Nabi-HB 0.06 mL/kg of body weight should be administered intramuscularly as soon as possible after exposure and within 24 hours, if possible. Nabi-HB may interact with other drugs. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use and all vaccines you recently received. During pregnancy, Nabi-HB should be used only if prescribed. It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
Our Nabi-HB Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (Human) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
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 side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
- increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, trouble concentrating, chest pain, numbness, seizure);
- left-sided stomach pain; or
- nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Less serious side effects may include:
- upset stomach, diarrhea;
- tremors or shaking;
- joint or back pain;
- fever, chills;
- headache; or
- tired feeling.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Nabi HB (Hepatitis B Vaccine Recombinant)
SIDE EFFECTS
Fifty male and female volunteers received Nabi-HB, Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (Human), intramuscularly in pharmacokinetics trials20. The number of patients with reactions related to the administration of Nabi-HB (hepatitis b vaccine recombinant) included local reactions such as erythema 6 (12%) and ache 2 (4%) at the injection site, as well as systemic reactions such as headache 7 (14%), myal-gia 5 (10%), malaise 3 (6%), nausea 2 (4%), and vomiting 1 (2%). The majority (92%) of reactions were reported as mild. The following adverse events were reported in the phar-macokinetics trials and were considered probably related to Nabi-HB (hepatitis b vaccine recombinant) : elevated alkaline phos-phatase 2 (4%), ecchymosis 1 (2%), joint stiffness 1 (2%), elevated AST 1 (2%), decreased WBC 1 (2%), and elevated creatinine 1 (2%). All adverse events were mild in intensity. There were no serious adverse events.
No anaphylactic reactions with Nabi-HB (hepatitis b vaccine recombinant) have been reported. However, these reactions, although rare, have been reported following the injection of human immune globulins23.
Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Nabi HB (Hepatitis B Vaccine Recombinant)
