Varicella Virus Vaccine (Subcutaneous Route)

Free

E-newsletter

Subscribe to Housecall

Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

• Fever over 39 °C (102 °F)

• Blue lips and fingernails
• Chest pain
• Chickenpox-like skin rash
• Coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum
• Decreased urine output
• Difficult, fast, or noisy breathing, sometimes with wheezing
• Dilated neck veins
• Extreme fatigue
• General feeling of discomfort or illness
• Increased sweating
• Irregular breathing
• Irregular heartbeat
• Irritability
• Pale skin
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling of the ankles, face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
• Tightness in the chest
• Troubled breathing
• Weight gain
• Wheezing

• Black, tarry stools
• Blood in the urine or stools
• Chills
• Confusion
• Convulsions (seizures) with high fever
• Cough
• Difficulty with breathing or swallowing
• Fever
• Hives
• Itching, especially of the feet or hands
• Muscle or joint pain
• Pinpoint red spots on the skin
• Reddening of the skin, especially around the ears
• Severe or continuing headache
• Stiff neck
• Swelling of the glands in the neck
• Thickening of bronchial secretions
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Unusual tiredness or weakness, sudden and severe
• Vomiting

• Back pain, sudden and severe
• Bleeding gums
• Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
• Bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
• Bloody nose
• Blurred vision
• Bruising more easily
• Convulsions (seizures)
• Dizziness
• Fast heartbeat
• Headache
• Heavier menstrual periods
• Inability to move the arms and legs
• Inability to speak
• Itching
• Large, flat, blue, or purplish patches in the skin
• Large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
• Loss of bladder control
• Muscle spasm or jerking of all extremities
• Painful blisters on the trunk of the body
• Painful knees and ankles
• Pale skin
• Pinpoint red spots on the skin
• Puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• Raised red swellings on the skin, buttocks, legs, or ankles
• Rapid weight gain
• Red irritated eyes
• Red skin lesions, often with a purple center
• Shakiness and unsteady walk
• Skin rash
• Slurred speech
• Sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
• Stomach pain
• Sudden loss of consciousness
• Sudden numbness and weakness in the arms and legs
• Swelling or puffiness of the face
• Swollen or painful glands
• Temporary blindness
• Tingling of the hands or feet
• Unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
• Unusual weight gain or loss
• Weakness in the arm or leg on one side of the body, sudden and severe
• Weakness of the muscles in your face

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

• Fever of 37.7 °C (100 °F) or higher, but not above 39 °C (102 °F)
• Hives, itching, pain, redness, soreness, tenderness, or warmth at the injection site

• Common cold
• Congestion
• Constipation
• Cracked, dry, or scaly skin
• Diaper rash
• Diarrhea
• Disturbed sleep
• Dry skin
• Earache
• Heat rash or prickly heat
• Lack or loss of strength
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle aching or cramping
• Muscle stiffness
• Nausea
• Nervousness
• Runny nose
• Skin rash, encrusted, scaly, and oozing
• Sneezing
• Sore throat
• Stuffy nose
• Swelling
• Swollen joints
• Teething

• Bacterial skin infections
• Body aches or pain
• Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
• Difficulty with moving
• Dryness or soreness of the throat
• Hoarseness
• Pain, redness, swelling, tenderness, or warmth on the skin
• Red rash with watery, yellow-colored, or pus filled blisters
• Tender, swollen glands in the neck
• Thick yellow to honey-colored crusts
• Voice changes

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Copyright © 2013 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.