User Reviews for ZOSTAVAX (PF) subcutaneous

I recieved the vaccination on Tue. 2/8. It was admionistered at Walgreens. It burned as it was being injected. 2/9 Egg like ares, hard, fever like, red, and itching. By this afternoon, am having a sore throat. 2/10 Very sore throat, redness and itching ...had a bad night trying to sleep b/c of sinus drainage and sore throat.

I had the vaccine administered to me at around noon on a Friday. The next day I felt nauseous after lunch and by nightfall I had pain in my upper left abdominal area and I was vomiting so badly that there was green bile in the vomitus. I finally had to visit the ER and was admitted to the hospital with severe pain dur to Acute Pancreatitis. I recovered after three days and my regular MD showed me a 26 page report about pancreatitis that stated Varicella Zoster is often associated with pancreatitis. I believe the Zostavax which is a live attenuated virus was the causative agent.Read More Read Less

I received the Zostavax injection on Thurs. 1/20 and was fine until Friday night 1/21 when I noticed a red spot and slight pain in the site. The next day the spot had grown to 3 X 4 in. & I had a swollen knot the size of a tennis ball. There was considerable itching, jabbing intense pain & I spent all day Saturday and Sunday icing the spot, taking Advil, Benydryl & sleeping pills each night so I could get some rest. My shoulder and whole arm feels numb & weak. I also applied a steroid salve given to me for severe case of poison ivy. I even thought of going to the Emergency Room but because i didn't have any difficulty breathing didn't. On Monday I went to the pharmacy who administered it & the pharmist said she'd never seen that kind of reaction & if it got any worse to go to a doctor. Tuesday morning 1/25 and although the redness & swelling has shrunk somewhat, it's still there. And my arm is still weak. I don't know if this will ever go away. Wouldn't recommend this to anyone, deal with the shingles, if it happens, be aware & have it treated then. Even with the shot, you have a 50/50 chance of still contacting shingles! This immunication shouldn't have even been put on the market.Read More Read Less

I'm a classic chicken pox as child case and was diagnosed with shingles in my 40s. Got this drug on my 60th birthday 2 years ago. My improvement in frequency and severity is about 70% - not the mere 55% publicized by the CDC.

I recived the shot many years ago when it first came out - not any adverse effects from the shot. Today 1/10/11 I have shingles. I am so angry I could spit nails. I am caring for a 5 month old grandchild 3 a week and now I cannot have her till the blisters scab over -hopefully doc says by next week. Did I know it was not totally effective????? May have a lighter case due to the shot, however.I would like to know the percentage of folks who get shingles anyway????

Because I had the chicken pox as an adult I never wanted to get the shingles. I took the shingles vaccine in June 2008 and several weeks later got a severe reaction from the top of my head to the top of my feet. I've had biopsies and multiple blood work which only showed that i may have an allergic reaction. I've been to 4 dermatologists, one infectious disease doctor, my oncologist, radiologist oncologist and surgeon for help. ALL 8 doctors have never seen my type of reaction. My face and chest have the typical fluid pustules and the rest of my body has a flat purple design all the way to my feet and arms. My face, mouth and tongue burn first then it goes to the rest of my body. Also, it feels like needles are stinging my skin. I do not itch. Along with this I have severe stomach pain, bloating and diarrhea. My reaction to the shingles shot has affected my stomach. It has been 2 1/2 years since this began. Today my pcp prescribed an anti viral pill to be taken 3 times a day for the next ten days. If this doesn't work i will find a virologist. I have been in touch with Merck and they are no help. Read More Read Less

In helping me to keep from getting shingles outbreak less frequently my dr gave this to me..it has helped some..but not as much as I wish it would have...Maybe you can use me as a study. I think it should be given more than 1 time...

Took the shot (8/3/10) injection site very sore and developed cold sores in my mouth within 24 hours. Now (8/27)experiencing severe pain in all joints and swelling. Hope this goes away soon.

Recieved Zostavax vaccination on 02/22/2010 and came down with shingles on 02/26/2010. Painful blisters on right side of face, forehead, and scalp. Confirmed by physician on 03/01 who also prescribed Acyclovir and Cephalexin. Obviously, I am very displeased with this situation!

I have never had shingles, but I recently turned 60, and had the shot, since my wife had the shingles 2 years ago, and it seemed like the wise thing to do. I had the shot last Tuesday 02/16/10. Everything appeared just fine for a few days with no symptoms. Then I woke up Saturday morning with sore throat, headache, achiness, and a 102.8 fever; some rashes began erupting on my ring finger (I don't wear a ring on that finger), and more mildly on the top of my hands. Sunday the fever diminisbed but I still felt like a space cadet, and the rash on my ring fingers and hand were growing and erupting some morer; my MD perscribed a Z-Pak as a precaution, and opined that my apparent virus was not related to the shingles shot; yet by Monday afternoon it is now looking very much like a shingles rash on my hands and fingers. All this from talking a preventative vacination. It sure would be nice to get some wise professional advise, as to what I should now to minimize the severity of this reaction, and make it go away! All responses will be appreciated!Read More Read Less

My doctor recommended that I get the vaccine in June 2009, as I am 67 and have had chickenpox. I had an extremely unpleasant time for two weeks after the shot, with flu like symptoms, raised hot red area the size of a large hand on my arm, with a great deal of pain. I have had THREE short occurrences of shingles since the shot, and none before. I feel like a guinea pig. I had no idea until I read these reviews that the vaccine was a new thing, virtually in its testing period. I feel that extra virus has been introduced into my system. I am very suspicious and unhappy with my doctor's recommendation.Read More Read Less

I got the shot on Wednesday 2/3/2010. No problem with the injection until Thursday when my arm became sore. But, by Friday my arm was red, swollen, burning hot and itching. I called the pharmacy where I was given the injection, and the pharmasist told me to put cortizone cream or ointment on the red spot. By this time the "spot" was 3" x 4" in size. After putting the cream on it, it was better. I'm going to have to keep putting the cream on it for a few days.

24 hrs after receiving injection I became weak and my gut began to ache like the flu. After two days I experienced significant knee joint pain in my right knee, and some in my left that required 600 mg Ibuprofen, ice, and a knee brace to knock the pain down. My guts continue to ache and I am very tired four days after the shot. A friend of mine got the shot and she was experiencing flu-like sysmptoms and exhaustion for ten days. Folks, Merck does not even have a place on their website to acknoledge problems. It is about the money - at a 50% success rate, this drug should not have been released. I personally beleive the large drug companies are now skewing the results of their testing to favor the drug. To receive this vacine is the equivalent to getting shingles, but you get shingles for free, and this cost $218.00.Read More Read Less

sore muscles is this a side affect?

I received the vaccination on 09/29/09. It hurt a lot as I drive away. Within 2 days I had a large, bright right swelling around the injection site and a large flat circle of redness extending from elbow to upper arm and halfway around my arm. The injection site was very painful, swollen, hot and itchy. After a week, the flat circle disappeared but the bright red swollen area remained. It then changed to a blotchy, rash-like appearance. The pain was severe enough that I iced the area several times daily and took OTC pain relievers. Eleven days later, the swollen area and redness are both significantly smaller and the pain is reduced although very much present. Read More Read Less

I got this shot 9/11/09. After approx. 20 mins. I experienced a metal like taste. The next day the injection site was itching and by that night was getting red and painful. I also experienced dizziness. On 9/13 the redness and pain was worse and the area also started to develope blisters. I can not find any information relating to my side effects or how long I can expect them to continue.

Minor reaction at injection site for 24 hrs.

On June 9, 2009, i had the shingles vaccination. Five days later I developed a severe cold sore on my bottom lip. Two weeks later, it went away. Two days after that, which was yesterday, June 29, I developed another "fever blister" on my lower lip. I remain very stressed out over this. I am not sure how to rate the effectiveness or my satisfaction. I will be very satisfied if I never get shingles, but the stress of the cold sores is awful. I cannot guarantee that it is a reaction to the shot, but I would bet that it is. Read More Read Less

I was mistakenly given a pediatric chicken pox vaccine instead of adult varicella zoster vaccine. Is there a problem now getting the Zostavax?

We've always joked that God wired me wrong! My body always does the opposite of what the medication is suppose to do!! I took a chance & had the injection on 1/16/09. Never felt the injection & the only time the area was tender was when I slept on that side & that only lasted a few days. NO PROBLEMS & NO SIDE-EFFECTS! Would highly recommend it!