Zoster vaccine, live (Subcutaneous)
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 3, 2022.
Commonly used brand name(s)
In the U.S.
- Zostavax
In Canada
- Varilrix
Uses for zoster vaccine, live
Zoster vaccine, live is used to prevent herpes zoster (shingles) in patients 50 years of age and older.
This vaccine is to be administered only by or under the supervision of your doctor or other authorized health care professional.
Before using zoster vaccine, live
In deciding to use a vaccine, the risks of taking the vaccine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this vaccine, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to zoster vaccine, live or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Use is not indicated in children.
Geriatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of zoster vaccine in the elderly.
Breastfeeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Interactions with medicines
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this vaccine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Receiving this vaccine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to use this vaccine or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Alemtuzumab
- Bendamustine
- Bortezomib
- Bosutinib
- Cabazitaxel
- Capecitabine
- Carboplatin
- Carfilzomib
- Carmustine
- Chlorambucil
- Cisplatin
- Cladribine
- Clofarabine
- Cyclophosphamide
- Cytarabine
- Cytarabine Liposome
- Dacarbazine
- Dasatinib
- Daunorubicin
- Daunorubicin Citrate Liposome
- Daunorubicin Liposome
- Deflazacort
- Docetaxel
- Doxorubicin
- Epirubicin
- Etoposide
- Fludarabine
- Fluorouracil
- Gemcitabine
- Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin
- Hydroxyurea
- Idarubicin
- Ifosfamide
- Imatinib
- Interferon Alfa
- Irinotecan
- Irinotecan Liposome
- Lomustine
- Mechlorethamine
- Melphalan
- Mercaptopurine
- Methotrexate
- Mitomycin
- Mitoxantrone
- Nelarabine
- Nilotinib
- Ofatumumab
- Oxaliplatin
- Paclitaxel
- Paclitaxel Protein-Bound
- Pemetrexed
- Pentostatin
- Ponatinib
- ...
