Age: 59.0
Sex: F
Vaccine: TTOX, VARZOS, VARZOS
Symptoms: Inappropriate schedule of drug administration, Urticaria
Clinical narrative: Hives, began day after (December 12, 2007) vaccination during physical exam on December 11, 2007. Still treating, 7 weeks later. Dr. referred me to my dermatologist, and I am using a prescribed antihistamine and topical gel. She also wrote a prescription for prednisone, which I have not yet filled. Very frustrating! This is in follow-up to report(s) previously submitted on 6/24/2008. Information has been received from a 60 year old female consumer with sulfonamide and codeine allergies and no pertinent medical history who on 11-DEC-2007 was vaccinated with one dose of ZOSTAVAX (Merck). Concomitant therapy included PREMARIN and PROMETRIUM. On the morning of 13-DEC-2007 the patient stated she broke out into little cluster of hives. She was getting about 6 or 8 a day. On 8-JAN-2008 it stated progressing and getting worse. Medical attention was sought with her dermatologist, there were no lab studies performed. The patient was prescribed XYZAL and TOPICORT. The patient stated it didn't help me. The patient also stated on 22-JAN-2008, it looked like I had a very bad case of hives on my chest, face, and scalp. On 24-JAN-2008, the patient saw the dermatologist again and was told she could be breaking out for up to one year and was given a prescription for prednisone. The patient stated she finished on 16-FEB-2008 and it worked like a charm. On 25-FEB-2008 the hives started popping up again, but it's not too terrible. At the time of the report the patient had not recovered. There was no product quality complaint involved. Follow-up information was received from the Dermatologist. In medical records from 23-JAN-2008 it was noted that the patient developed hives shortly after getting a ZOSTAVAX (Merck) vaccination. The patient had a rash on her right arm, left forearms, right thigh, left leg, back, left thigh, right knee, chest and abdomen showing urticarial plaques. There were no tests to report. The patient was treated with OTC antihistamines but she continued to get new hives. The patient was given XYZAL 5 mg a day which helped but when she stopped taking them on vacation she developed a generalized eruption. The patient has been using TOPICORT 0.05% gel for the new areas. The dermatologist suggested that the patient go back to the XYZAL, ALLEGRA 180 mg a day if no better with XYZAL, continue with TOPICORT gel and if she got much worse to start a prednisone taper 30 mg x 3 days, 20 mg x 4 days, 10 mg x 4 days, 10 mg QOD x 4 days. In medical records dated 29-FEB-2008 it was noted that the patient did better, off of prednisone for 9 days. The patient would develop 1-2 new lesions that would go away. The patient was to use TOPICORT on the new lesions and only if she got such worse she was to start a prednisone taper of 30 mg x 3 days, 20 mg x 4 days, 10 mg x 4 days, 10 mg QOD x 4 days. At the time of the report the patient had not recovered completely. Follow-up information was received from the patient who was still getting hives all over her body. The consumer stated that the hives have been popping up on and off for the past year and has been given prednisone (manufacturer unspecified). Within the past three or four days the hives came back and are all over her body and very painful and the occurrence she was experiencing was quite severe. Additionally, the patient reported that she could not wear clothes that fit closely to the body (this included bras) when the breakouts were severe. Her sleep was continually interrupted by the severe itching, tingling this condition caused. In addition the patient reported that she was embarrassed by her physical appearance and constantly had to consider the location of the hives when she was deciding what she could wear to leave home. The patient reported that she enjoyed both the health benefits and physical and mental benefits of exercise, but frequently could not exercise as it intensified the number of hives and the itching. Her last two vacations were severely affected by the hives breaking out and her inability to wear a bathing suit at times. The consumer stated that she could not sleep all weekend because of the pain she was having and she spoke to her physician why is going to give her prednisone again to help with the hives and pain. At the time of reporting the patient had not recovered. Additional information has been requested.