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Shingles Vaccine

Posted , 16 users are following.

ricky23486
ricky23486

I wonder if anyone has been given the new Shingrix vaccine which I understand is ok for people with autoimmune disorders and over 90% preventive whereas  the older vaccine, Zostavax, is apparently contraindicated for autoimmune disorders.   

0 likes, 30 replies

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  • Miki680
    Miki680 ricky23486

    Posted

    Thank you for asking; I have the same question. I am on 8.5 mg of pred right now, tapering with the slow method and would like to get the 2nd shingles vaccine. Thoughst? Much appreciat4ed.
  • lynda62707
    lynda62707 ricky23486

    Posted

    Actually, no I've not had it YET, but was getting ready 2 ask 4 it at my next primary's visit. I'm glad you said something as I hadn't even thought about the ramifications of the autoimmune aspect of it! Thanks!

    • ricky23486
      ricky23486 lynda62707

      Posted

      Linda...did your doctor give you a prescription for the shingrix?
  • charles2523
    charles2523 ricky23486

    Posted

    My primary has given me the ok for the vaccine. I am presently on 5mg of pred.
  • Anhaga
    Anhaga ricky23486

    Posted

    Shingrix is preferable because it's made from killed virus so can't trigger shingles as apparently Zostavax could.  However I don't think it's been used long enough to know if other side effects could be serious.  My husband has had the first of the required two shots and was knocked out feeling awful for about 24 hours (like he had the flu), and then back to normal.  So could Shingrix trigger PMR-type pain?  i don't think we know yet.  

    • ricky23486
      ricky23486 Anhaga

      Posted

      Anhaga, I hadn't even thought of the possible and as yet unknown side effects of shingrix..... Hope your husband is feeling better.....

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga ricky23486

      Posted

      Oh he was better in twenty four hours.  But he spent most of the day sleeping in a chair and complaining about how rotten he felt.  It's time for the second shot and for some reason he seems to be in no hurry to have it!

  • Elijo
    Elijo ricky23486

    Posted

    I'm wondering the same thing.  I haven't had PMR for a while, probably about 3 - 4 months at least, but did have that awful fall causing 3 pelvic fractures, for which I'm still taking outpatient PT, still using a walker, a W/C on longer jaunts, and not actually back to normal yet.  I see my MD in 2 weeks, and I should ask him.  I've had enough problems and don't want to exacerbate anything, nor do I want to get shingles.  I did have the Zosta.... a few yrs ago with no side effects.

  • amkoffee
    amkoffee ricky23486

    Posted

    I was told by my pharmacist that the old vaccine would not keep me from getting shingles since I've already had shingles once. She did say though that it would help reduce the pain I would have. I did not end up getting that shingles vaccine. So I'm wondering if anyone knows if the new vaccine would keep me from getting shingles again.

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga amkoffee

      Posted

      Shingrix claims to be something like 97% effective, whereas Zostavax was closer to 50%.  I don't have the figures in front of me but they are easy to find on the internet, I'm just too lazy to look.  I read about it yesterday.  Both vaccines lose potency over the years, but it is expected that Shingrix will retain its potency longer than Zostavax.  

  • Lindylulu
    Lindylulu ricky23486

    Posted

    I was diagnosed with PMR/GCA 8 years ago and am currently on 5mg Pred a day. At the moment I am having my eighth outbreak of shingles in as many years, each one more painful and lasting longer than the previous outbreak. Because of Pred I  cannot have the live vaccine and am desperate to try the new Shingrix, so if anyone has tried it whilst taking Pred I would be most interested in the outcome. I am assuming Ricky that you live in the USA/Canada as I believe these are the only countries it is available at the moment and will not be available in Europe for some time yet.
    • EileenH
      EileenH Lindylulu

      Posted

      In fact the rubrics say that the old vaccine is safe when the patient is on a low dose of pred. BUT (and for me it is a big BUT) Merck, the manufacturers, say an adverse event found during trials is polymyalgia rheumatica! If it can cause it - it does seem to me to be something we shouldn't even be offered!

    • lynda62707
      lynda62707 EileenH

      Posted

      Great point Eileen!! A true case of "what were they thinking"???

    • ptolemy
      ptolemy EileenH

      Posted

      Remember Merck were the company who thought it would be a good idea to get well people onto pills so they became patients and also boosted their coffers. They were also the people who first introduced statins. Didn’t they do well?
    • EileenH
      EileenH ptolemy

      Posted

      We were friends with a Merck rep many years ago and they had a super new BP drug. I had pre-eclampsia (they said) and as my BP continued to rise episodically the medics put me on this drug. Our friend was furious - it had not been tested in pregnant women. It hadn't been typical pre-eclampsia, no fluid retention, no protein in urine, just hypertension. Until I took the first tablet: I sat on the edge of my bed, noticed I'd stopped sweating and my feet swelled up like footballs. It all turned out OK - but I did often wonder how lucky I had been.

      One is left to ask whether it was doctors who encouraged Merck to become so keen to use their drugs everywhere?

    • ptolemy
      ptolemy EileenH

      Posted

      I think it was the M.D. or someone important in Merck who had the brilliant idea of giving tablets to the well. Now rather than initially getting people to improve lifestyle they are given drugs, great for the pharmaceutical companies. Also the QOF point system actually encourages doctors to give drugs as soon as you are a little bit over say with BP. As it means more money. Thought up by the BMA. As bad as the pharmaceuticals. The normal range is being reduced all the time so that by now everyone over 70 should be on blood pressure tablets. They have not taken into account that as you grow older the normal changes, being cynical, perhaps they have. The three big ones are diabetes, hypertension and statins. Big Money. 
    • Anhaga
      Anhaga ptolemy

      Posted

      Merck is also the company which is responsible for osteoporosis drug Fosamax (alendronate sodium), now the target of many lawsuits.
    • ptolemy
      ptolemy Anhaga

      Posted

      I had forgotten AA. They have recently introduced a new drug that can be taken with statins, so will have another patent on that and more money, as the statins one has run out I think. The trouble is the GPs let them get away with it. I suppose it makes life easy for them and in U.K. they get paid for doing it.
    • Elizamc
      Elizamc Lindylulu

      Posted

      Sorry to hear that you’ve had so many episodes of shingles, what rotten luck. Were you sble to get the ‘ant viral’ tablets too minimise the possible after effects?

      I had two separate episodes of shingles  earlier this year and within a couple of weeks of each other. I found the anti virals definitely helped. 

    • ricky23486
      ricky23486 Elizamc

      Posted

      How awful to get attacks one after the other... Horrendous. Do you remember the name of the anti viral medication you used?
    • ricky23486
      ricky23486 Lindylulu

      Posted

      Lindylulu... 8 attacks of shingles...how awful.... The Shingrix is available in the uk -and in Ireland. i saw an advert from a clinic in Hampstead where they charge you only for the vaccination and not for the consultation. I live in Israel and it is not yet available here... I am seriously considering hopping on a plane to the nearest country that will give it to me.... I simply can't bear the thought of adding more pain to pmr,! I do hope you can get the shingrix too.

    • Lindylulu
      Lindylulu ricky23486

      Posted

      Hi Ricky,

      Although English I live in Portugal now and have taken anti viral tablets as soon as the outbreak started, but they have no effect what so ever. This last outbreak is now in the 5th week and driving me insane! I have contacted clinics in the USA and Canada, Holland Belgium and the UK as well as Portugal. The general opinion is that S

      Shingrix will be available in Europe later this year, MAYBE, so if you have the name of the clinic in Hamstead please, please can you let me have it. Many thanks.

    • ricky23486
      ricky23486 Lindylulu

      Posted

      I forget the name of the pharmacy in hampstead but i found it ..and also boots the chemist in ireland , by googling shingrix UK
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