What medications to avoid after shingles vaccine?

Asked by: Miss Emmalee Schneider  |  Last update: October 27, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (18 votes)

There may be an interaction between herpes zoster vaccine and any of the following:
  • acetaminophen.
  • anakinra.
  • azathioprine.
  • baricitinib.
  • cancer medications (e.g., carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, ifosfamide, venetoclax, vincristine)

Do any medications interfere with Shingrix?

There are no known interactions between Shingrix and other medicines. Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

Should I take Tylenol or ibuprofen after shingles vaccine?

Taking an over-the-counter pain medicine such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen after getting Shingrix can help ease discomfort from side effects. Contact your doctor if you have serious side effects.

Why do some doctors not recommend the shingles vaccine?

But safety in pregnant women has not been proven yet, and so it is not recommended during pregnancy. Severe reaction to an earlier dose. If you had a severe allergic reaction after the first dose of RZV, you shouldn't have the second dose. Be careful also if you have had allergic reactions to other vaccines.

How long after shingles vaccine do you feel ill?

Side effects can last two or three days, and the injection site in the upper arm can hurt.

Do I have Shingles? Symptoms & Treatments - Ask A Nurse | @LevelUpRN

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What is considered a bad reaction to the shingles vaccine?

Severe allergic reactions following vaccination are rare, but can be life threatening. If someone experiences symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, which can include hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness.

Should you rest after shingles vaccine?

If possible, it is a good idea to schedule vaccination the day before some downtime, so you can rest if you develop side effects. If you develop flu-like symptoms after shingles vaccination, you can take ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) to control your fever and improve comfort.

Why do I feel so bad after Shingrix?

A: Shingrix works by strengthening the immune system's defenses against reactivation of the virus. In some people, this process may cause mild soreness, redness, swelling, or pain in the arm at the injection site. These symptoms last for two or three days.

Why was the shingles vaccine taken off the market?

Merck & Co.'s Zostavax was discontinued in 2020 because of waning effectiveness over time. Curevo hopes to change that and go head-to-head with GSK's Shingrix — which notched $4.3 billion sales last year — with a vaccine that's as effective but has a lower rate of side effects.

What happens if you don't get the second shingles shot?

However, in those adults who received only one dose instead of the recommended two, the effectiveness dropped rapidly after the first year and only offered 52% protection against shingles after three years. These results reinforced the importance of getting the second dose.

Can shingles affect blood pressure?

There are two possible causes, they said. The virus may be replicating inside the walls of the arteries, causing fatty buildups to break off and cause a stroke or heart attack. Or it might be the pain causing stress that sends the blood pressure up, they said.

Why shouldn't you give Tylenol after vaccines?

They showed that, as expected, babies who received a pain reliever like Tylenol were significantly less likely to develop a fever than those who didn't. But those who got the painkiller also had a diminished immune system response to the vaccine itself.

What is the controversy with the Shingrix vaccine?

A warning about GBS was already included in the Shingrix PI. This described the findings of an observational study in individuals aged 65 years or older which showed an increased risk of GBS (estimated 3 excess cases per million doses administered) observed during the 6 weeks following vaccination.

What medications increase risk of shingles?

Drugs that prevent rejection of transplanted organs can increase your risk of shingles. Long-term use of steroids, such as prednisone, may also increase your risk of developing shingles.

Are there any gastrointestinal side effects from the shingles vaccine?

The most common side effects are headache; stomach and digestive complaints (including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and/or stomach pain); muscle pain (myalgia); pain, redness and swelling at the injection site; and tiredness, chills, fever. Most side effects have a duration of 1–3 days.

Is there a downside to the shingles vaccine?

The most common side effects of a shingles vaccine are headaches and pain, soreness, swelling and itching where the shot was given. On white skin, the area might look red. On Black or brown skin the redness might be harder to see.

What percentage of people get Guillain-Barré after the shingles vaccine?

A self-controlled case series found an increased risk of GBS during a 42-day period after vaccination with Shingrix [11]. The study also found an estimated three cases of GBS per million vaccinations administered in adults aged 65 and older [11].

How long after Shingrix shot do side effects appear?

Typically, Shingrix side effects start within days or even hours within receiving the vaccination, and they can resolve on their own within two to five days. Commonly reported side effects of the Shingrix second dose include pain, fever, and swelling.

What percentage of people have a bad reaction to Shingrix?

Adverse events of arthralgia, infective pneumonia, and influenza-like illnesses occurred in ≥1% of recipients of SHINGRIX and at a rate at least 1.5-fold higher than placebo (1.5% vs 1.0%, 1.5% vs 0.9%, and 1.3% vs 0.6%, respectively).

What are the chances of getting shingles after vaccine?

The shingles vaccine is 97% effective in preventing shingles in people ages 50 to 69 years old. It's 91% effective in people ages 70 years and older. In addition, the shingles vaccine is 91% effective in preventing PHN in people ages 50 to 69 years old. It's 89% effective in people ages 70 years and older.

Why is the shingles vaccine not given over 80?

The vaccine's effect diminishes with age, therefore people aged 80 or older aren't eligible to receive the vaccine.