Shingrix and Tiredness: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 23, 2019

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "Got my vaccination on Thursday. That evening, my arm was quite sore. Sometime in the night, I woke to find my armpit and breast were also painful. Friday morning, I was feeling tired, achy, and had a bad headache. By Friday evening, I was also having fever and chills, and my joints hurt. Tylenol didn’t help much, so I took Ibuprofen, which worked better. I went to bed early. Saturday morning, I felt better except for a dull headache and fuzzy vision. Saturday night, I developed an itchy body rash and had to take a Benadryl. Sunday morning, I woke up to find myself feeling pretty normal but a bit tired. I sure hate the idea of having to go through it all again in two months! My mother had shingles, and I definitely don’t want that, so I will get the second shot. I am 72. My 80-year-old husband has had both vaccinations and suffered nothing but the sore arm."

• Paa...
• September 2, 2019

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "Got 2nd shot 8/30/19. Arm sore, flu-like for 3 days: 2 nights of severe sweats overnight. Tired. Slight headache. Temp up to 100.8; usually run 96. Very achy. Today is the 3rd day. Feel the most 'with it' 9/2 - so far."

• Nos...
• December 3, 2022

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "You can have a Shingrix shot without terrible prolonged side effects. My husband had both shots and remembers no side effects at all. I am 71 and had my first one four months ago and my second a couple weeks ago in November 2022. My first shot was done by a large pharmacy chain. The pain of the shot going in was prolonged, and it stung very badly. My arm became extremely stiff and painful after a few hours and remained like that for about a week. The day after the shot, I was so tired I stayed in bed for hours and had a severe headache. The third day, I felt better except for the arm swelling, stiffness, and pain that persisted another few days. The second shot was administered by a small independent pharmacy, and the pain of injection was about 90% less. That night, my arm started to hurt and become stiff, and this lasted just a few days. The day after, I had a headache, and that was it. My father had shingles in his 90s, and there was no way I wanted that. Worth it for sure for me."

• Itc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 19, 2018

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "1st shot in May 2018 - slight headache the next day. My husband felt a bit worse than I did, but didn't keep us from work. 2nd shot Aug 2018 - same symptoms, but easier on my husband this time. I had headache, lethargy, general tiredness - but the worst part is a large itchy hive on my arm near the injection site. I'm on day 4 and hoping the itching stops soon. However, still better than getting shingles."

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 23, 2018

"Just got the 1st shot on Thursday after work. I was told to expect a sore arm and flu-like symptoms within 24 hours. That was spot on. I bought Theraflu and Advil. I took both on Thursday evening before symptoms started, and I think it helped lessen the pain. My neck is achy, and I have some congestion and a sore throat and am tired. Just rest and keep taking meds every 4 to 5 hours. I recommend getting the shot on a Thursday so there's time to rest up for 2 to 3 days if you're working, so not out. It is worth a few days of discomfort versus getting shingles. It is terribly painful!"

• Yla...
• August 11, 2018

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "I found it helpful to have anti-nausea meds, clear soda, Tylenol, at least two days off, and ice cream in the freezer because it was the only thing I felt like eating for a while. Lost 2 lbs. Second shot was a bit better than the first, but still tired after a week."

• Aqu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 6, 2018

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "I experienced every side effect from headache to nausea to lethargy to arm soreness. All side effects dissipated within 3 days. Though I don’t look forward to the 2nd dose, I understand that shingles is much, much worse. I haven’t read anything about needing a booster shot 5-10 years out. Anyone know about this?"

• Hol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 19, 2019

"I got my 1st dose yesterday. My arm hurts like crazy, so much that it woke me up when I turned in my sleep. I have a terrible headache that isn't going away with ibuprofen. My doctor told me about a rash (which I don't have yet) that could last up to a week, feeling tired, sick to my stomach, fevers, and chills. So far just headache, injection site pain, tired out, and freezing all the time. But I would rather deal with these than deal with shingles for sure! I selected 'no' about the insurance covering, the vaccine is $158 here, and Humana Medicare Advantage Gold covered most of the cost. I had to pay $47. My drugstore doesn't even stock it, so I was on a waiting list for over 2 months."

• Bar...
• March 21, 2021

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "First dose of Shingrix, no side effects, just a slightly sore arm. Second dose - within four hours, started feeling really bad. Nausea, body aches, chills, exhaustion. It got worse over the next 24 hours, then started to clear. One of the worst nights in recent memory, and I just recovered from 11 days of COVID-19! (A month prior to the second vaccine.) I had really bad chickenpox as a kid, and lately, a lot of my friends have been coming out with shingles. One had it in her eye! Probably all the extra pandemic stress. Vaccinations are, by and large, the way better choice than the disease - if you have the opportunity, get the injection; just be prepared to feel a little junky. I plan to get my COVID-19 vaccine next month, allowing time between the vaccines and still before my immunity wears off. I am in good health and take vitamins and exercise and all of that. My husband, who does none of that, had no COVID-19 symptoms, although he was positive; he had no side effects from either Shingrix vaccine."

• Sur...
• July 15, 2019

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "Beware! Okay, so the first shot, little to no symptoms except for at the sight of injection, it was hot and painful for a month. The second shot was awful! I had the chills, nausea, very lethargic for 3 days. I was so cold my teeth were chattering. I couldn’t sit up or focus, I was miserable. Then, about 4 weeks later, I had red, itchy spots on my legs, mainly below my knees. I scratched one leg, and it just burned horribly and made the red spots bigger. Three months later, they are still there. My leg I didn’t scratch, the red spots are just red dots and not as raised, but still there after three months. I have never had this issue, no new soaps, foods, or change in habits. Lotion doesn’t help and often burns on the leg I had scratched. I wouldn’t recommend!!!!"

• Txl...
• December 13, 2020

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "40-year-old female who developed a case of shingles at age 39. I have a history of seasonal allergies but am in good general health because I work out at the gym every day. I received my first dosage of the shingles vaccine on 10/11/20. My arm was quite sore, and I was exhausted for 1-2 days. I received the second dosage of the shingles vaccine yesterday, 12/12/20. I felt a sore arm within 2 hours. Last night, I had chills (I had to sleep with my winter coat on)...once the chills stopped, I developed a fever of 100.5 degrees. I had a fever all night. Tylenol helped with the fever, and my symptoms seemed to have resolved now. The shot is nothing to be scared of...I don't ever want shingles again, post-herpetic neuralgia, or shingles developing near my eye, so that's why I decided to get vaccinated even though I am underneath the recommended age."

• Aly...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 12, 2018

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "Got the first shot 3 days ago. Injection site (arm) is red, sore, and itchy. Very tender and feverish. I will plan for worse side effects after the second shot. My husband was also sore and felt tired and sick feeling. Hope it is effective against the shingles."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 11, 2018

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "62-year-old male, experienced similar side effects with both the first and second dose. Arm sore around the injection site about 3 days. Otherwise fine for the first 6-10 hours and then experienced a strong headache and extreme exhaustion. Could not go to work the second day, struggled to go on the third. Symptoms then stopped at the end of three days. My wife had the same vaccine, and she only experienced a sore arm. In my case, it wiped me out both times."

• Pat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 11, 2018

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "I got the shot on a Wednesday. On Thursday, I had chills, nausea, a fever of 101+, and a migraine. On Friday, I still have the headache and lethargy. I still have a sore arm, but I can take that. I’m DREADING getting the second dose. I didn’t know the side effects could be so severe, so I didn’t plan to be knocked completely off my feet."

• Har...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 15, 2021

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "I had the first injection of 2 courses and was advised it's no different than the flu shot. This was not the case, the injection was fine, but the next day it floored me: massive, painful headache, sickness to the point that I was unable to function for an entire day. I couldn't even keep down water. The following 2 days were a mix of complete exhaustion and recovery, I felt extremely weak. I know there are risks of shingles, I understand shingles is painful, as a friend went through it, hence why I went for the Shingrix vaccine. I'm not sure and have mixed feelings about getting the second dose due to the reaction from the first. The pain and 3 days following was too much. If this does help prevent shingles, only time will tell."

• Bar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 26, 2021

"The 1st dose made me feel tired the next day, and I rested, didn't do anything on a Saturday. By Sunday, I was fine and back at the gym. I just had my 2nd dose and feel fine. I've never had the chicken pox. When I was a child, I was inoculated for everything. My father was a navigator in the Air Force. Glad I had it done."

• Tun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 13, 2023

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "The injection site was red in a growth pattern to about 2.5 inches across that also turned into a hard lump over a 4-day period. Extreme fatigue and lethargy. Also, I couldn't remember to do the things I needed to do. Definite brain fog. I couldn't even focus on getting things ready for the next day. I felt out of it for 3 days. I would recommend that if you get it, to have at least the next day off. Getting the second shot only because shingles is a worse alternative. I took my blood pressure several times yesterday while I was really feeling bad. Systolic readings were much higher than usual, while diastolic were lower than usual. (142/55). Normal today (110/69)"

• Hey...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 27, 2019

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "1. 1st shot 16.5.19. 2. A little soreness in the left arm. 3. Felt tired, but not excessively so. I was able to get some heavy gardening completed. Removed most of the violets that are spreading like the chickenpox spread in the early mid-fifties. 4. Three days in, I contracted a sinus infection; mucus cough from the right lung during the day. No coughing at night. It feels like it's dissipating today. 5. I will pop in for the second shot in July. I'll post then. 6. I maintain a high level of fitness as a year-round cyclist in Ottawa, ON (according to my Lifecycle C9i, I am at the elite level of the U.S. Air Force cardio test for a forty-year-old. I ride a minimum of 150 minutes of HIIT routines a week. I also lift weights three times a week. Bio features: Male, 66, W: 60k, Ht: 173cm, married, working, grandchildren."

• Sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 22, 2021

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "I am a healthy 50-year-old female who got the first Shingrix vaccine 3 days ago. No problems on day one, but I woke up the next morning with a mid-level headache, my arm was sore and hot to the touch, and the injection site ached across to shoulders/upper back. Unpleasant but not unbearable. I was tired. I took 2 Tylenol and went back to bed for a few hours. By late afternoon on day 2, I was feeling pretty okay. Shoulder pain was gone. Arm pain remains on day 3, but it is localized now to the injection site. I feel fine in every other respect. Reading these reviews, I am very scared to get a second shot, but getting shingles also sounds horrible. I feel strongly that pharmacists should prepare people for side effects and never recommend doubling up any vaccine with Shingrix. For the record, I had zero reaction to the J&J vaccine and just a sore arm for a day to my Pfizer booster."

• Ani...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 14, 2021

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "Had first vaccine February 12, and it is 36 hours later. And the injection site hurts, upper arm near shoulder is sore. Feel very blah, tired, headache, and had a brief fever of 99, but was able to work today."

• Dai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 17, 2020

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "I had my first shingles vaccine with my flu injection in mid-October; the arm soreness was as expected, and I took Tylenol and was able to do my normal activities. Five days ago, I received my second shingles injection in my right arm and my pneumonia injection in the left. That night, my left arm was sore from the pneumonia injection, but no pain in the right arm. The next day, the right arm became swollen, red, hot, and painful with a hard knot at the injection site. I became febrile, achy, and nauseated and stayed in bed for two days. Now, the fifth day, I still feel tired; my arm is still very painful (it feels like I have an abscess where the injection site is). Due to COVID, I am canceling all appointments and engagements just because I don't have proof all of this is because of the shingles vaccine!"

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2018

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "I had my first injection about 3 months ago and only experienced a sore arm with a red spot for about a week and a half. Got my second injection a few days ago, and besides the sore arm, I had full-on flu symptoms: muscle aches, lethargy, weakness, chills, and fever up to 100 degrees. Still feeling ill after 3 days. If it works to keep me from getting shingles, it's worth it."

• Dee...
• August 1, 2021

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "May 2021, had first injection. Within hours, I had pain in my arm. I moved it a lot to try to avoid severe pain I've read about. It seems to help. I was feverish, achy, tired, dizzy, and had blurry vision. By the 3rd or 4th day, I was much better. In July, I just got the second injection. My normal aches and pains are much worse than normal. I'm hot and cold. Woke up sweating, dizzy, and aching. I moved my arm a lot so pain in my arm minimal, very hot and red at the injection site. I'm on the 3rd day after injection, I hope tomorrow I will feel much better."

• BGP...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 17, 2021

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "Had my first dose of Shingrix. As soon as the solution went in, I got a spasm and a sharp pain. Minutes later, it was swollen, felt like a ball, and redness. The slightest touch would hurt: extreme muscle, joint pain, chills. Spasm comes and goes down my spine. It's been 4 days already, and my symptoms minimized, the swelling has reduced, but I still have it. It's not red but pinkish. I still have itching and still hurt and still feel tired, and for some reason, my stress/anxiety level grew during the first two days after my shot. That was unusual for me. I'm not really looking forward to the second dose, but if these symptoms are less than having the actual shingles, I'd rather go through this."

• Gir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2021

For Herpes Zoster, Prophylaxis "Got my 2nd vaccine a few days ago. Just some mild pain at the injection site and felt a little tired for a day or two. I highly recommend this vaccine. No side effects with the first shot; just mild pain at the injection site. Nowhere near as painful as the tetanus vaccine."