VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) belongs to the class of medications called ‘immunizing agents’ used to prevent varicella or chickenpox. Chickenpox is a vaccine-preventable viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It is highly contagious, especially in people who have never had the disease or have not been vaccinated against it. Symptoms include rash, small painful blisters, fever, sore throat, and body pain.
VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) is an immunizing agent or vaccine made from a live, weakened or attenuated varicella-zoster virus. It helps to provide persistent or long-lasting protection against varicella or chickenpox. VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) helps develop immunity by forming antibodies by stimulating the immune system. It is essential to take the vaccine doses per the doctor’s advice for effective protection against the disease.
VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) will be administered by a healthcare professional; hence do not self-administer. VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) may cause side effects such as fever, pain, swelling, and redness at the injection site. These side effects are mild and temporary. However, if these side effects persist or worsen, inform your doctor immediately.
It is not recommended to take VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) if you are allergic to neomycin or any contents present in this medicine. VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) should not be given to people with blood disorders or cancer of the blood (leukaemia) or immune system (lymphoma), with a weak immune system, such as patients with HIV or AIDS, who are receiving immunosuppressants or receiving high doses of corticosteroids, who have active untreated tuberculosis, and who have a temperature higher than 38.50c VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) should not be given to pregnant women and used with caution in breastfeeding mothers. VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) is not recommended for children below 9 months of age. VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) should be used with caution in elderly people. VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) may not interact with alcohol and may not affect your driving ability.
Chickenpox prophylaxis
VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) provides active immunization against varicella-zoster virus or chickenpox disease for healthy individuals above nine months of age. It benefits people who are non-immune and at risk of infection, such as healthcare workers or workers in children's day-care centres, non-immune parents of young children, and non-immune household contacts of patients with weak immune systems with no history of the disease. Vaccination within three days of exposure to the virus can reduce the risk of infection and the severity of the disease.
People who have been vaccinated with VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) should avoid close contact for up to 6 weeks with the following individuals: who have not been previously vaccinated against chickenpox, children/adults/pregnant women who have never had chickenpox, who have a weak immune system or receiving immune suppressants, and new-born babies whose mother have never had chickenpox. Adults and children with weak immune systems who receive VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) should be closely monitored as this vaccine is less effective in these people. In people who have undergone blood or plasma transfusion, who had taken human normal immunoglobulin or varicella-zoster immunoglobulin, VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) vaccine should be avoided or postponed for at least five months in these people. Besides, people should not receive any immunoglobulin medicines for one month following VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED). You should not take pain killer (aspirin) for six weeks following VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) as it may cause Reye syndrome (a severe condition that causes liver and brain damage). Women of childbearing potential should use reliable contraceptive methods as it is not recommended to get pregnant for one month following VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) vaccination.
Drug-Drug Interactions: VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) should not be given to patients taking immune suppressive therapy (tacrolimus, cyclosporine, and azathioprine, etc.) or high doses of corticosteroids (prednisone, methylprednisolone, and dexamethasone, etc.). VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) may interact with a pain killer (aspirin) and cause Reye syndrome (a severe condition that causes liver and brain damage). VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) may also interact with immunoglobulin therapy (human normal immunoglobulin and varicella-zoster immune globulin).
Drug-Food Interactions: No interactions found.
Drug-Disease Interactions: VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) should not be used in patients with cancer-related to blood (leukaemia) and immune system (lymphoma), HIV or AIDS, active untreated tuberculosis, and fever (higher than 38.5°C).
Do not consume alcohol with VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) as it may result in serious side effects.
VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) is not recommended during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, inform your doctor before taking this medicine.
VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) is probably safe to use while breastfeeding. According to limited human data, the drug poses no significant risk to the baby.
VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) may not affect your ability to drive.
VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) does not affect liver function. However, if you have liver problems, your doctor will weigh the benefits and risks before prescribing this medication based on your condition.
VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) does not affect kidney function. However, if you have kidney problems, your doctor will weigh the benefits and risks before prescribing this medication based on your condition.
VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) should not be given to children under nine months of age. In children from 9 months to 12 years of age, VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) should be used with caution as dosage adjustments are necessary.
Chickenpox: The varicella-zoster virus causes a vaccine-preventable viral infection. It is extremely contagious, especially among people who have never had the disease or have not been immunised against it. Although it is most commonly seen in children, adults can contract this infection. Rashes, small painful blisters, fever, sore throat, and body pain are all common symptoms. This disease is treated with antiviral medications. Avoid contact with other people who have chickenpox and practise good hygiene to recover quickly.