home > drugs a-z list > zostavax (zoster vaccine live) drug center

Zostavax

font size

Zostavax Drug Center

Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

Zostavax (Zoster Vaccine Live) is a live vaccine used to prevent herpes zoster virus (shingles) in people age 60 and older. Zostavax will not treat shingles or nerve pain caused by shingles (post-herpetic neuralgia). Common side effects include redness, itching, swelling, warmth, bruising, and pain at the injection site. Headache may also occur.

Zostavax is administered by a doctor as a single 0.65-mL dose subcutaneously (under the skin) in the deltoid region of the upper arm. There may be other drugs that can affect Zostavax. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Zostavax is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Pregnancy should also be avoided for 3 months after receiving this vaccine. It is not known if this drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Our Zostavax (Zoster Vaccine Live) Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information as well as related drugs, user reviews, supplements, and diseases and conditions articles.

What is Prescribing information?

The FDA package insert formatted in easy-to-find categories for health professionals and clinicians.

Zostavax Prescribing Information: Indications & Dosage

ZOSTAVAX is a live attenuated virus vaccine indicated for prevention of herpes zoster (shingles) in individuals 50 years of age and older.

Limitations of Use of ZOSTAVAX:

  • ZOSTAVAX is not indicated for the treatment of zoster or postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).
  • ZOSTAVAX is not indicated for prevention of primary varicella infection (Chickenpox).

Read the complete drug monograph for Zostavax »

What is Zostavax Prescribing Information?

Drug Description - Indications & Dosage - Side Effects & Drug Interactions - Warnings & Precautions - Contraindications - Medication Guide and More

What is Patient information?

Easy-to-read and understand detailed drug information and pill images for the patient or caregiver from Cerner Multum.

Zostavax Patient Information: Side Effects

You should not receive a second zoster vaccine if you had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.

Keep track of any and all side effects you have after receiving this vaccine. If you ever need to receive a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shots caused any side effects.

Becoming infected with shingles is much more dangerous to your health than receiving the vaccine to protect against it. Like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.

Get emergency medical ...

Read the complete patient information for Zostavax »

What is Zostavax Patient Information?

Possible Side Effects - Images - What Is - How Should I Take It - What If I Miss a Dose - What Should I Avoid and More

What is Consumer information?

A concise overview of the drug for the patient or caregiver from First DataBank.

Zostavax Consumer Information: Uses

This medication is a vaccine used to prevent zoster (shingles) in adults 50 years and older. Zoster is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you have been infected with chickenpox (usually in childhood), the virus can live in your body's nerve roots in an inactive form. For reasons that are not fully understood, the virus may become active again. This causes shingles with symptoms of rash, blisters, and pain.

This vaccine works by boosting the body's natural defense (immunity) against the zoster virus so that symptoms of shingles do not develop. It should not be used for tr...

Read the complete consumer information for Zostavax »

What is Zostavax Consumer Information?

Warnings - Uses - How to Use - Side Effects - Precautions - Drug Interactions and More

Related Resources for Zostavax

Related Health

Related Drugs

© Zostavax Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Zostavax Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.

Additional Zostavax Information

Zostavax - User Reviews

Zostavax User Reviews

Now you can gain knowledge and insight about a drug treatment with Patient Discussions.

Here is a collection of user reviews for the medication Zostavax sorted by most helpful. Patient Discussions FAQs

See User Reviews

Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration

 

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.


Privacy Policy

Women's Health

Find out what women really need.


From WebMD

Healthy Resources
Featured Centers
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors