Shingles Vaccine and Polymyalgia Rheumatica/Prednisolone
Posted , 8 users are following.
Hello again everybody,
I have just been booked by the Doctors Surgery for a shingles vaccine BUT I thought I would look on the internet for suitability. Perhaps not to my surprise I find heavy advice against it against various strengths.
Whilst the big no is to 20mg a day or long term users I am now concerned . . . .
I am on 12.5mg per day and have worked my way down over two fragile years with a number of relapses. I consider myself to vulnerable!
What are the thoughts?
2 likes, 19 replies
EileenH davidmelville
Posted
I'm not saying no - I'm saying I'm not sure. And I'd certainly wait until I had done plenty of research.
We have talked about this before but I honestly can't remember what conclusion we came to. Maybe someone else will remember - in the meantime, I shall go and look.
EileenH davidmelville
Posted
I can't give you the direct link but on a site called "virginiahopkinstestkits" There is a quote from Merck ( the makers of Zostavax):
"According to Merck, the maker of Zostavax, “Serious vaccine-related adverse reactions that have occurred following vaccination with Zostavax include asthma exacerbation and polymyalgia rheumatica [An inflammatory disorder that causes widespread muscle aching and stiffness, primarily in your neck, shoulders, upper arms, thighs and hips, that can last months or even years.] Other serious adverse events reported following vaccination with Zostavax include cardiovascular events (congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema).”
The Zostavax vaccine can also cause shingles.
Notice the CDC says that the vaccine is effective for about half the population age 60 to 69, but only provides “some protection” for older groups. As we get older, it’s more difficult for our immune systems to mount an antibody response in response to a vaccine. That’s why the flu shot isn’t very effective for senior citizens."
You can get a link there for Merck's prescribing info. Google a chunk of the quote and you should get a direct link so you can use it.
If the manufacturers are admitting this it should be taken seriously.
MrsO-UK_Surrey davidmelville
Posted
Whisper2003 davidmelville
Posted
EileenH Whisper2003
Posted
marykay62062 davidmelville
Posted
hope4cure marykay62062
Posted
As far as I know some people should not get the vaccine if:
Anyone has a severe (life-threatening) allergy to any component of the vaccine.
Pregnant women or nursing mothers.
Anyone who is unable to swallow the vaccine tablets whole without chewing them.
Anyone younger than 17 .
Or any other severe health treatment such as for cancer treatments or for autoimmune diseases where the immune system is compromised with certain drugs.
EileenH hope4cure
Posted
hope4cure davidmelville
Posted
In my humble opinion getting the vaccine is preventive maintenance. Better than waiting to get the Shingles virus.
It has no cure and is deadly in some cases. The most common complication of shingles is a condition called post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). People with PHN have severe pain in the areas where they had the shingles rash, even after the rash clears up.
The pain from shingles herpes voster virus may be severe and debilitating, but it usually resolves in a few weeks or months in most patients. Some people can have nerve pain from for many years. Yet it effects every organ even eyesight.
Check into the pro & cons with UR doc. U & I are fragile & I n my case I got the virus
and then the vaccine to leasson the severity of the flares. So far so good...that was 5 years ago...
CHEERS
davidmelville
Posted
After leaving a messages for my Dr he called me and had to look into it and call me back. His said it was 40mg plus a day people who should not have it and went on to recommend I took it as shingles itself is to be avoided.
I am going to have to go back to him because the bigger question raised by this, especially the Drug Companies own findings are in relation to Polymyalgia Rheumatica.
EileenH davidmelville
Posted
The reality is though that it only works in about half of patients anyway. The reason it works less well in older patients (over 69 it is usually not given) is that the immune system deteriorates with age and it will not mount the development of the antibodies to the live vaccines (whichI believe this is). Our immune systems are obviously not working properly as we have an autoimmune disorder anyway (the underlying cause of PMR) plus we are on pred. I don't know how old you are - I'm 62 and wouldn't have it.
If you develop the signs of shingles the other option is immediate use of immunoglobulin which will minimise the course of the illness.
hope4cure EileenH
Posted
I have read the MERK clinical trials. Also many vaccinations r made from mice livers/ kidneys years ago. There is a lot online about the polio vaccine in research and production of vaccines about the small consentration of molecules getting through the sterile barriers and contain contaminants. That's is the current theory for all the unexplained illness like FM ,rare cancers and more strains of cancers.
I have many immune diseases arthritis.. PSA, RA OA.. Psoriasis... The reason to take the vaccination in my case I broke out in shingles early before the vaccine date of recommendation. The docs gave it to me to reduce my flares & symptoms later down the road stating the live vaccine will help my body produce more antigens to fight the disease . Especially since I have autoimmune diseases. So far 5 years down the road I have not experienced another flare from shingles. Knock on wood. The first one attacked my eye and I see double.. I may eventually loose my sight in that eye. So if the vaccine prevent any more damage to my body I'm relieved. That's just my experience..
flu shots r also available to me. I will always take a yrly shot. I 'd rather not experience any major flares from the flu. I also have angina and pleurisy.. It could essentially be fatal, if I get a secondary infection from the flu, not to mention two THR HIP implants. Any flu or secondary infection could be fata as well. Every decision is made according to the patients medical history, age and any serious allergies.
thats just my experience. I hate getting sick.. I feel like I have a light case of the flue all the time anyway. So why risk the consequences. Some just weigh the pros and cons. It's worked for me & for many in my family and friends.
CHEERS
hilary70413 davidmelville
Posted
Anybody know if the shingles virus can knock out polymalgia . Any thoughts?
I really want to get rid of steroids so I can have the shingles vaccine as I really do not want to get it again.
MrsO-UK_Surrey hilary70413
Posted
The 5mg dose can be a sticking point for many people and one at which we need to slow down the steroidreduction process, remembering that each reduction in dose is a higher percentage drop than the previous one, so our bodies need longer to adapt. Plus the adrenal glands will be trying to get up to speed with producing their normal pre-steroid amount of cortisol (natural steroid) from 7.5mg and below - whilst that is happening we can have a shortfall of cortisol in our bodies until this natural production catches up. So a smaller reduction and alonger taper from each new dose to the next is recommended to avoid further flares.
hilary70413 davidmelville
Posted
Anit epilepy tables 300mg a day plus capcicum cream- no end in sight.
I do not want to get shingles again so I am asking GP for the shigles vaccination in a month or so. My steroid dose is well bellow the 40 mg guidlines of NHS precribing.
Has anyone with Polymyalgia had the shingles jab?
EileenH hilary70413
Posted
The rest has been said above - but I don't think I have come across anyone on pred on the PMR forums who has had the jab.