Shingles vacine

[Issis]

Last year I turned 70 and was offered the shingles vaccine. But when I went to get it..I was told I could not have it because I was on MTX....but on a recent visit it Dr. Was told now I can have it....but will probably get slight shingles infection.....and if I don' get it and get shingles..it could be fatal......what to do...?

[cathie]

I suppose anything can be fatal, but I had shingles a year ago and though it was very unpleasant i am still around to tell the tale. I think it would be worth pursuing this. GPs tend to overreact when medication they dont really know about is concerned. I had years of struggle over mtx and the flu vaccine.

ANything you can do to avoid shingles, do, though I have a suspicion that the vaccine doesnt last too long.

[Issis in reply to cathie]

Thanks Cathie.....my father had shingles and I remember him almost screaming in pain....not nice....but been told the vaccine would last me my lifetime.......I just need to stop being a worrier....

[cathie in reply to Issis]

It was unpleasant but maybe we RA sufferers have high pain thresholds?! I still have some residual unpleasantness on my forehead. There were one or two days in bed, the rest was more of a torment than anything else. Maybe when the knee is behind me I might re-investigate the vaccine. 

[Trish1006]

I have always been told not to take anything with a love virus like the Shingles.

[oldtimer]

It seems a bit confusing about having the shingles vaccine. There is a good short article here: arthritis.org/about-arthrit...

It looks as if the current advice is that you can have the shingles vaccine if you are methotrexate, but not biologics. Personally I think that anything that stopped me getting another attack of shingles would be good, but unfortunately I'm not the "right" age. But you have to do your own risk/benefit balance. Shingles is unpleasant and painful. It makes you feel even more fatigued. If you catch it early then antivirals can reduce the pain and the likely-hood of post-herpetic pain (where the nerve root pain continues long term). If it affects the area around the eye then it can permanently affect vision.

I'm hoping that the production of the vaccine will improve and it can be offered to more groups. We won't have a good idea of how long the vaccine protection lasts until it has been around for longer.

[Sheila_G]

I know shingles is a nasty and painful thing but I have never heard that anyone has died from it. 

[nomoreheels]

I've read that low dose MTX used to treat us isn't considered immunosuppressive enough to cause problems, unlike biologics. Nevertheless I would think anything like this the person to ask is your Rheumy just in case there are other meds you take where it's recommended you don't have a live vaccine, I believe steroids at doses over 10mg is one, full info can be found in the Green Book, 28a under Contraindications.

The NHS Choices website does state that for 1 in 1,000 over 70's who develop shingles it can be fatal, hence why it's offered to people aged 70 & remains available until their 80th birthday, full details are here nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinati...

[Scorer]

Hi,

I am 64 years old and been on methotrexate for 35 years, biologics (rituximab) for 8 years and steroids for over 40 years. I am now 64 and during the past 6 years have had shingles twice. The first time it was very severe lasting almost three months with dreadful pain. The second time started on anti-vitals fairly quickly and the effects were much less debilitating and shorter lived.

Have enquired about vaccine and GP seemed fairly happy about me having it. Am going to check with consultant next time I see him and pay for it if necessary. Seem to be prone to shingles plus many other infections due to necessary drugs to treat the RA. Will report back on what consultant says.

PS Have never had a problem with flu vaccine which I have had for past 15 years.

Best wishes all Pam

[dreamboat]

I would double check with your consultant. I was told never to have a live vaccine.