User Reviews for ZOSTAVAX (PF) subcutaneous

I had this injection on Feb 7th, 2013. Only had the normal low grade fever, soreness at the injection site, and headache. BUT on Feb 10th, I started having hot flashes at night (I'm 59 and was basically done having hot flashes!) THEN on Feb 11th, I woke up to a chickenpox-like, shingles-like rash on both cheeks, scalp and neck. And my face was red and felt like a sunburn. The rash bumps finally sarted going down and scabed over. A large one remained on my neck. 3 weeks later the rashes all returned, as did the redness and burning. Every 2-3 weeks since, there has been another outbreak of the rashes-ususally on the upper body only, until now. NOW every 10 days I've had an outbreak! This last one (it is now July 17th), was more widespread-face, chest, legs, arms, back. Dr has no idea what's going on. Sent me to the dermatologist who just took 3 biopsies. Ouch! Waiting on the results of those. Has anyone else had recurring rashes from this horrible vaccine??Read More Read Less

Zostavax was recommended by my physician several years ago and I got the vaccine since my insurance covered the cost. I have continued to have almost constant vesicles on my lower legs but the symptoms are much milder than prior to the vaccine...relatively no pain with it, just some mild itching. Until this week, when I developed severe pain, redness and swelling in my lower leg, severe enough that my nurse practitioner ordered an ultrasound to rule out a thrombosis (negative). I am truly glad that I did not have to pay for the vaccine out-of-pocket, but it has been a dismal failure for me.Read More Read Less

I got zostavax shot Dec 7 2012 for the cost of $200.00 and now in march I ended up with a bad case of shingles. This product is a waste of money and does not help prevent shingles.

Got the shot May 2012. Developed pain in the muscle at the site. After 8 months, it has not gone away, but seems to be getting a little worse (hurts when reaching my arm around my back or overhead).

Received Zostavax 2/13/13. Developed severe headache on second day that lasted most of the time for 5 days, along with severe photophobia, nausea, muscle,joint and abdominal pain. Developed raised oval welt 1 by 3 inches long below injection site, tender and itchy, which lasted 2 weeks. Along with pain in my eyes from light I developed blurry vision and that lasted 2 weeks. My husband got the shot at the same time and never had any reaction at all. Would NOT get it again.

I got the vaccine on Wednesday afternoon, by friday I had a surface allergic reaction, my whole upper arm swelled, red, hot, and had a lot of pain, I was also light-headed. I went to the ER, gave me a steroid shot, and prescribed benedryl, as of today (Sunday) I am still light-headed, swelling has gone down to some extent, but still sore.

I am 53 and my doc recommended the "Shingles vaccination". Got it 10 days ago into the upper left arm. The following 3-4 days the injection site hurt and a lump formed, I avoided spleeping on that side. Then on day 4 or 5 it felt like a sensation of "discomfort" was spreading through my upper left side, rip cage and I got a bit dizzy. After half a day that went away, it felt like my body finally started doing something. The injection site issues disappeared together with this discomfort and dizzyness. I thought I was done...but no. Today, about 10 days later I woke up with a rash in the lumbar area, curiusly on both sides of the body. Rash with little bumps, some textures, looks like chickenpox. While there is no evidence that this is related to the vaccination I am quite sure. I am totally healthy otherwise, never get rashes or even virus infections easily. This would be just too much coincidence. I'll watch it, hope I am done with the side effects soon. My doc did not warn me of the potential of even getting shingles or chicken pox. I would have not gone the vaccine. My bad - I should have done my homework better and googled more about Zostavax. Read More Read Less

I'm on my 6th fever blister since being vaccinated 3 months ago. Mild rash occurred at injection site for about a week, no problem. I can only hope it actually works as shingles prevention since it's aggravated my life-long herpes simplex into a super problem as they appear without the usual trigger (sun exposure without min SPF 18 lip balm) and recur less than a week after the previous one finally goes away. It's been super for my social life-it's always attractive when your having a conversation and your lip starts to bleed. Hope this is temporary!Read More Read Less

I had a cold sore on my lip in 1984 (on my Honeymoon,no less). I got the Zostavax vaccine three weeks ago, no reaction, redness, pain, etc. Two days ago I woke up to a huge cold sore on my lip. It tingles, itches, hurts, etc. Caused by the vaccine? I believe it is.

I had shingles 4 years ago lasting about a month. I recieved the vaccine three weeks to prevent any recurrence, the shot was not painful, had some redness and soreness at the site for 3 days, no problems after that.

Got the Zostavax today. Within 5 min of getting it,felt weird,like a "rush". Then my head felt pressure,hard to discribe. I have controlled high BP but since I had the shot at a Pharmacy, I took my BP there and it was 179/95 p.82. This is very high for me. I am allergic to ACE inhibitors, aspirin and tetracylines and told nurse who screened me of this. Had also seen my primary Dr. in the am and he didn't warn me of any such side effects.As I waited after the shot, BP fell to 155/80. I went home to lie down and took a BP med. After 40 min. pressure went down again. But still felt weird and spacey. After reading all the bad reactions here AFTER I had the vaccine, I wish I hadn't taken it. Who knows what the future will bring? I felt super before taking it but now,really "out of it". If it gets worst, I will call Dr . Looks like I may be in in for the ride of my life! Merck may be experimenting with Srs. to perfect this Vax. Certainly we will be collateral damage.Read More Read Less

I am 59 years old and multiple family members had Shingles. I received my vaccination on Wednesday afternoon and noticed itching on my right leg on Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon I concluded that I had Shingles due to the red rash, itching and swelling at multiple locations on my right leg. I had an intense work out on Thursday might which may have lowered my resistance but there was no recommendation from the doctor to take it easy. I conclude this must be a mild case because there is no severe pain that my family members reported. My rating is based on my estimation that I would have gotten a much worse case of Shingles without the vaccine. My symptoms are similar to poison ivy. Read More Read Less

I had the Zostavax injection on 12/21/11. That night severe itching started at the site of the shot on my right upper arm and all around it. Benedryl cream helped but did not stop the itching and I was not able to return to sleep that night. The next day I noticed the development of an oval rash just below the injection site, about 3"x2", and very itchy. Over the next several days below that site I also developed a scalelike skin condition, also very itchy. This itchy rash and scaling persisted as it was for almost a week causing much discomfort and lack of regular sleep before it began to rapidly fade along with the itching. However tonight I have developed stabbing intermittent SEVERE burning pain on the lower part of my right arm, just below the skin, pain that staggers me when it hits and leaves a burning and numbing sensation after fading. It comes and goes, seemingly at random. I just consulted our medical guide and this pain is almost exactly as the beginning pain of shingles is described. I am now afraid this injection may have given me the very illness I took it to prevent. Based upon my continuing experiences I would STRONGLY recommend anyone contemplating injection with this vaccine NOT to do so. Read More Read Less

It worked for me for awhile, but now I have more frequent episodes and the pain is getting worse. I will go back to taking L-Lysine 5000 mg per day.

More that a few people have shared their stories of having shingles, so I didn't want to end up like them in my senior years and I went out and was vaccinated. Prior to the vaccine, I had a complete STD workup done and my STD workup came back negative to EVERYTHING. I am starting a new relationship now and my partner and I are having STD blood workup done before we go further. Well, my Herpes results came back positive for Type I and II, all other results were negative. I can ONLY think that the antibodies from this vaccine are giving the reading as a positive to the Herpes Virus as I have absolutely No other signs of this virus or have even been recently kissed by any frogs.Read More Read Less

Some post injection side effects that were incomfortable

I had the shot in early June, with no discomfort or other side effects right away. However, two days later I developed a cold sore on my upper lip. Now five weeks later I have another one on the other side of my upper lip. This is not something I normally suffer, so I feel sure it is caused by the Zostavax.

Hey, My Dr. advised me to have this treatment. I've been exposed to Chicken Pox several times, even as an adult, and to my knowledge, haven't had the virus. After reading all responses to this blog, I am going to refuse, and take my chances. The reactions seem too painful to take a chance. I'm a type II diabetic and have enough pancreatic problems without adding this to my troubles. Good luck!

About two years after taking the vaccine, I contracted genital herpes from my husband, who has had type 1 herpes most of his life. We've been married 40 years, and I never caught it until after taking the vaccine--coincidence? I don't know. The herpes is very virulent, with active symptoms lasting about a year and a half so far, docs can't help, it's resistant to all the anti-virals I've taken.

I received the Vostavax vaccine in just a day or so was ill, nausea, etc. Tested by physician for elevated lipase and amylase. Diagnosis: pancreatitis, unknown etiology. I have no history of any pancreatic type disorders. I believe the zostavax was the causal agent of my pancreatitis, which has resolved, but the future is unknown if there are to be any damages to the pancrease.