Has anybody else had shingles after taking MMF (1g every 12 hrs) for over 12 months? I read the pednisolone comments earlier this year.

[kered]

[Hidden]

Not me but I'm not surprised as it is a strong immunosuppressant. By coincidence I had shingles at diagnosis but that was before the treatments started. Mycophenolate gave me amazing side effects including joint pains and capillaritis.

[rjsmyth]

I also had very bad shingles (across my trunk) about eight months prior to an ITP diagnosis. To me this was not a coincidence. At the time of diagnosis my Haemo dismissed this as being too long ago. I am convinced otherwise.

[Hidden in reply to rjsmyth]

I know that my shingles wasn't the cause of the ITP as I know for sure that I had a very low count several months before. Of course it wasn't till I was dianosed that I put two and two together, but I do know that the shingles wasn't the cause although it did crash my count.

[NickyD]

I had shingles twelve months into my treatment for ITP. I am on 2.5g of MMF every 24 hours. I dont know if the shingles was linked to the ITP.

[kered]

Thank you all for your comments. My dose of MMF is 2g every 24 hours and apart from some digestive problems at the beginning and a slow start the MMF is working well and my count is consistently between 80 to 100.I I have been on the MMF about17months and the shingles attack is the first outward sign of any immunosuppression even though I was on prednisolone (dreadful stuff and didn't work) and IVIG. My shingles is also on my abdomen (right side) but so far little pain.