MountainGirl asked
Has anyone complained of water retention/mild ankle swelling after the first dose of Shingrix?
Answer
Shingrix is a sterile suspension vaccine intramuscular injection for the prevention of the varicella zoster virus, which causes shingles.
As the body ages it is more susceptible to many viruses, including herpes zoster. This appears to be related to a decline in the immunity to the varicella zoster virus, which is often developed during childhood when having the virus in the form of chicken pox or by receiving the Varicella vaccine. Shingrix has shown to boost a varicella zoster virus specific immune response.
According to clinical trial data common adverse reactions include:
- Pain, redness, and swelling around the injection site
- Fatigue
- Myalgia
- Shivering
- Headache
- Fever
- Nausea/Vomiting/Diarrhea
- Upset stomach
All of the adverse reactions were lower in people that were aged 70 or older. The injection site adverse reactions commonly only last 2-3 days. The headache and shivering was reported more frequently after the second dose.
Two separate studies have documented a very small percentage of patients noticed a new onset potential immune-mediated diseases (pIMDs) or worsening existing pIMDs. Immune mediated diseases are conditions that result from changes in the body's immune system.
In Summary, there have been no significant documentation of water retention nor ankle swelling as an adverse reaction after receiving the Shingrix vaccine. However, it is important to notify your doctor of any adverse reaction as it may be an inflammatory response related to pIMDs or information that should be documented for the future study of Shingrix.
It is important to complete the 2 dose immunization series according to the suggested schedule and the potential for adverse reactions are temporarily associated with the administration of Shingrix.
