Relugolix and Measles Virus Vaccine, Live: Interaction Details
AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · AI content regenerated Jul 11, 2026 · Source data updated Jul 2, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature
Relugolix
Measles Virus Vaccine, Live
No brand names on record
How we grade severity & evidence
Severity levels
- Contraindicated: These should generally not be used together.
- Major: Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
- Moderate: Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
- Minor: Usually limited clinical impact.
Evidence grades
- Established: Well documented — supported by controlled studies or strong clinical data.
- Probable: Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
- Suspected: Some evidence suggests this interaction, but it is not well established.
- Possible: Limited or conflicting evidence; the interaction may occur.
- Theoretical: Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
Ratings come from the documented interaction literature and are reviewed by a pharmacist. They describe the documented risk of the combination, not what will necessarily happen to you — your dose, timing, and health picture all matter.
Relugolix (Orgovyx) is used to treat prostate cancer by lowering testosterone. The measles vaccine is a live vaccine, which means it contains a weakened but living form of the virus. In someone whose immune system is weakened, that weakened virus can sometimes cause a real infection instead of just training the body to fight measles.
Because you may be receiving cancer treatment that affects your immune defenses, getting a live vaccine like this could be risky. The good news is your care team can plan around this. Please don't get any live vaccine without first talking to your oncologist or pharmacist, so they can decide what is safe and when.
Interaction: Live measles virus vaccine is contraindicated in patients who are immunocompromised, including those with hematologic or solid tumors or on cancer-directed therapy such as relugolix.
- Mechanism: A blunted humoral/cellular immune response permits replication of the attenuated vaccine virus, risking disseminated vaccine-strain infection.
- Direction: Reduced immune competence increases infection risk (neither agent is metabolically activated; this is a pharmacodynamic/immunologic contraindication).
- Evidence: Established; per CDC guidance.
- Management: Do not administer live measles vaccine during immunosuppression. Per CDC, live vaccines may be considered once disease is in remission, immunocompetence restored, and chemotherapy discontinued at least 3 months.
What happens
An increased risk of infection by the live vaccine
Interaction Deep Dive
Because of the potential for disseminated infection with the vaccine virus, the measles virus vaccine should not be given to people who have severe humoral or cellular immunodeficiency, whether primary or acquired 3. CDC recommendations state that this vaccine is contraindicated in those with hematologic or solid tumors, in patients undergoing chemotherapy, in individuals with congenital immunodeficiency, and in anyone on long-term immunosuppressive therapy 2. A live vaccine may, however, be given to patients who have leukemia, lymphoma, or other malignancies once their disease has entered remission, their immunocompetence has been restored, and chemotherapy has been stopped for a minimum of 3 months 1.
Why it happens (mechanism)
Decreased immune response allows live vaccine to produce infection
How to manage this interaction
This is a situation your care team manages by choosing the safe timing rather than adjusting a dose.
- Keep taking your relugolix (Orgovyx) as prescribed. Do not stop it on your own.
- Do not receive the live measles vaccine while your immune system is affected by cancer treatment.
- Ask your oncologist or pharmacist before getting any live vaccine.
- Per CDC guidance, a live vaccine may become appropriate once your disease is in remission, your immune function has recovered, and chemotherapy has been stopped for at least 3 months. Your team will confirm the right timing for you.
Management is individual — confirm any change with your pharmacist or prescriber.
Common questions
Can I take Relugolix and Measles Virus Vaccine, Live together?
The live measles vaccine should not be given while you are immunocompromised from cancer treatment, because the weakened virus could cause a real infection. Talk to your oncologist or pharmacist before getting any live vaccine. Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Relugolix and Measles Virus Vaccine, Live interaction?
It is rated contraindicated. These should generally not be used together.
How quickly could this interaction happen?
The documented onset is "unspecified". The timing of this interaction is not well characterized.
How is the Relugolix and Measles Virus Vaccine, Live interaction managed?
This is a situation your care team manages by choosing the safe timing rather than adjusting a dose. Keep taking your relugolix (Orgovyx) as prescribed. Do not stop it on your own. Do not receive the live measles vaccine while your immune system is affected by cancer treatment. Ask your oncologist or pharmacist before getting any live vaccine. Per CDC guidance, a live vaccine may become appropriat… Management is individual — always follow your own care team's guidance.
How strong is the evidence for this interaction?
The evidence is graded "established". Well documented — supported by controlled studies or strong clinical data.
Questions for your pharmacist
- Does my dose of Relugolix or Measles Virus Vaccine, Live need adjusting while I take them together?
- What symptoms should prompt me to call you or my prescriber right away?
- Does the timing of my doses matter for this combination?
- Is there a safer alternative to one of these medications for me?
References (3)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Vaccines & Immunizations: altered immunocompetence. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Atlanta, GA. 2024.
- National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD): Vaccines & immunizations: contraindications and precautions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Atlanta, GA. 2024.
- Product Information: PRIORIX subcutaneous suspension, measles, mumps, rubella vaccine, live subcutaneous suspension. GlaxoSmithKline (per manufacturer), Research Triangle Park, NC, 2022. DailyMed
Keep reading about Relugolix
Keep reading about Measles Virus Vaccine, Live
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