Myasthenia Gravis Support Group

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatiguability. The hallmark of myasthenia gravis is muscle weakness that increases during periods of activity and improves after periods of rest. Although myasthenia gravis may affect any voluntary muscle, muscles that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, and...

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weipa59 05/27/2018

For those with Myasthenia, is Shingrix vaccine safe to take?

chuckie1 05/27/2018

CHECK WITH YOUR NEURO. DOCTOR BEFORE TAKING IT. If it is A live virus then NO!!!!!!

weipa59 05/27/2018

Thanks Chuckie for taking the time to reply.

Rhanson 05/27/2018

Shingrix is not a live vaccine like Zostavax (the old shingles vaccine)., so we don't have to worry about that warning.

With MG under immune system suppression treatment, we may not get full value from any vaccines. For them to work, our immune system must react to the vaccine (dead or alive) and create antibodies that will protect us in the future. With a suppressed immune system that may not happen.

My neuro told me to take vaccines -- including a yearly flu one and others but counseled me that they may not work very well because I was on prednisone. She thought that their value, even if not full, was OK for me.

Good Luck
Russ

PeterL 05/27/2018

Well, if it were me I'd explore this with some vigour. I missed the shingles vaccine offer, October and ended up with it in December 2016. Not very pleasant, lasted through to August 2017 and played havoc with my MG 0r at least that what I put it down to. I'm just about getting back to normal but varying my Mestinon far more than I ever did.

weipa59 05/28/2018

Thank you Rhanson and PeterL. I definitely do NOT want shingles if at all reasonably avoidable. Shingrix is more suitable for those w MG than the prior shingles vaccine. I am not currently taking prednisone, mestinon or any other current medications for my ocular Myasthenia and am comfortable in my present situation to move forward to take Shingrix. Others need to evaluate for themselves if tgst same decision is suitable for them.

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