Varicella-Zoster Vaccine var-ih-SELL-a-ZOS-ter vak-SEEN

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: vaccine

Generic and brand names: varicella-zoster vaccine, injection; zoster vaccine live, injection; Zostavax

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is a vaccine given by injection (a shot) to provide protection against herpes zoster (shingles). It is given to people over the age of 50, even if you have had shingles before.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• a blood disorder, leukemia, lymphoma, or any cancer affecting your bone marrow or lymph system, or if you receive blood transfusions or immune globulin
• a weakened immune system from diseases such as HIV or cancer or from taking immunosuppressant medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection or steroid medicines
• tuberculosis

If you are severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled, wait until you recover before getting this vaccine. If you have a mild cold or mild upper respiratory infection with or without fever, you may still be able to get your shot. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not become pregnant for at least 3 months after receiving this medicine. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

This medicine is given as a single shot by a healthcare provider.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may cause pain, tenderness, irritation, rash, or swelling on the skin where injections were given. The pain or tenderness should go away in a day or two.

Blood transfusions or immune globulin medicine can change the way this vaccine works. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

After you receive this vaccine, you may be able to pass the virus to other people. If you get a rash after you receive this vaccine, avoid close contact with pregnant women, newborn babies, and people whose bodies cannot fight infection (such as those with bone marrow disease, HIV, or people having cancer treatments). Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you have received this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): High fever that continues or causes convulsions.

Other: Skin irritation or pain where injection is given, mild rash, cough, diarrhea, headache.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• corticosteroids such as cortisone, dexamethasone, fludrocortisone (Florinef), hydrocortisone (Cortef), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisolone (Prelone), prednisone, and triamcinolone (Aristocort)
• immune globulin
• immunosuppressants such as azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral), glatiramer (Copaxone), mycophenolate (CellCept), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Prograf)
• medicines used to treat cancer such as cisplatin, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), hydroxyurea (Hydrea), vinblastine, and vincristine (Vincasar)
• methotrexate (Rheumatrex Dose Pack)
• other vaccines. Tell your healthcare provider about any other immunizations you have had or are scheduled to receive. It is better to get this vaccine at least 4 weeks before or after you get a pneumonia vaccine.
• radiation therapy

Keep a record of all vaccines received and when you received them.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.