Reported Reactions

Adverse event reports that FDA received

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Herpes zoster adverse event reports that record this term

Kind of term
MedDRA preferred term
Plain meaning
shingles

What a report is

A report is not proof that the drug was the cause of the event.

FDA says:

Adverse event reports submitted to FDA do not undergo extensive validation or verification. Therefore, a causal relationship cannot be established between product and reactions listed in a report. While a suspected relationship may exist, it is not medically validated and should not be the sole source of information for clinical decision making or other assumptions about the safety or efficacy of a product. Additionally, it is important to remember that adverse event reports represent a small percentage of total usage numbers of a product. Common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product.

Source: openFDA, Drug Adverse Event Overview, section "Responsible use of the data". The site read the page on . The data have the reports that FDA received through .

FDA also says:

There is no certainty that the reported event (adverse event or medication error) was actually due to the product. FDA does not require that a causal relationship between a product and event be proven, and reports do not always contain enough detail to properly evaluate an event. The information in these reports has not been scientifically or otherwise verified as to a cause and effect relationship and cannot be used to estimate the incidence of these events.

Source: openFDA, Drug Adverse Event Overview. The site read the page on .

Do not rely on openFDA to make decisions regarding medical care. While we make every effort to ensure that data is accurate, you should assume all results are unvalidated.

Source: openFDA, Response of the drug event API (meta.disclaimer). The site read the page on .

Not medical advice. This site counts what was reported to FDA. Questions about a medicine or device belong with a pharmacist or clinician.

Reports on file

From January 2004 to June 2026, FDA received 56,705 adverse event reports that record the MedDRA preferred term Herpes zoster. In plain words, the term means: shingles. The person who codes a report selects the term that agrees best with the description of the reporter.

FDA received 2,700 reports in the 12 months to June 2026 and 2,957 in the 12 months before. FDA releases FAERS data every quarter, so the newest months are not complete. They grow in later releases.

The number of people who use the product is not in the data. A count is not a rate.

MedDRA

The Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities. The person who codes a report selects the preferred term that agrees best with the description of the reporter. FDA does not publish the description.

Plain meaning

Shingles. The words are from the fixed dictionary of this site. They add nothing to a report.

Data version

openFDA FAERS release of 1 Oct 2026. Reports received through 30 Jun 2026.

Drugs in these reports

The table has the 149 drug pages with 100 or more reports that record this term. The rows are in order of name. A drug page with fewer reports for this term is not in the table. The counts are the counts that the site keeps for each reaction term, and a count can be lower than the count of FDA.

FDA says:

Additionally, it is important to remember that adverse event reports represent a small percentage of total usage numbers of a product. Common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product.

Source: openFDA, Drug Adverse Event Overview. The site read the page on .

Importantly, the AEMS data by themselves are not an indicator of the safety profile of the drug or biologic.

Source: FDA, FDA Adverse Event Monitoring System (AEMS) Public Dashboard. Content current as of . The site read the page on .

Drugs that the reports with the term Herpes zoster name as a suspect product, in order of name
DrugClassReports with this term
AbataceptSelective T cell costimulation modulator272
Aciclovir125
ActemraInterleukin-6 receptor antagonist1,484
AcyclovirHerpes simplex virus nucleoside analog DNA polymerase inhibitor252
AdalimumabTumor necrosis factor blocker295
Advair HfaCorticosteroid104
AlemtuzumabCD52-directed cytolytic antibody297
Alendronate sodiumBisphosphonate146
AmpyraPotassium channel blocker193
AnakinraInterleukin-1 receptor antagonist261
AravaAntirheumatic agent503
Aredia119
AubagioPyrimidine synthesis inhibitor132
AvastinVascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor125
AvonexInterferon beta384
AzathioprinePurine antimetabolite292
Bendamustine122
BenlystaB lymphocyte stimulator-specific inhibitor148
BevacizumabVascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor103
BortezomibProteasome inhibitor235
CapecitabineNucleoside metabolic inhibitor113
CarboplatinPlatinum-based drug227
CelebrexNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug172
CellCeptAntimetabolite immunosuppressant188
Certolizumab pegolTumor necrosis factor blocker270
Certolizumab Pegol Ra100
Ciclosporin112
CimziaTumor necrosis factor blocker750
CisplatinPlatinum-based drug151
Codeine241
CosentyxInterleukin-17A antagonist736
CyclophosphamideAlkylating drug941
CyclosporineCalcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant333
CytarabineNucleoside metabolic inhibitor189
DemerolOpioid agonist179
DexamethasoneCorticosteroid672
Dianeal Low Calcium Peritoneal Dialysis Solution with Dextrose128
DiclofenacNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug100
DoxorubicinAnthracycline topoisomerase inhibitor291
Doxorubicin hydrochlorideAnthracycline topoisomerase inhibitor182
DupixentInterleukin-4 receptor alpha antagonist1,253
EliquisFactor Xa inhibitor122
EnbrelTumor necrosis factor blocker4,474
EntrestoAngiotensin 2 receptor blocker132
EntyvioIntegrin receptor antagonist121
Erelzi146
EsbrietPyridone101
EtanerceptTumor necrosis factor blocker316
EtoposideTopoisomerase inhibitor315
FludarabineNucleoside metabolic inhibitor162
ForteoParathyroid hormone analog395
FosamaxBisphosphonate466
GabapentinAnti-epileptic agent337
GilenyaSphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator1,118
GoldStandardized chemical allergen235
HizentraHuman immunoglobulin G102
Human immunoglobulin gHuman immunoglobulin G242
Humira4,715
Humira 40 Mg/0 8 Ml Pen117
HydroxychloroquineAntimalarial759
Hydroxychloroquine sulfateAntimalarial480
IbranceKinase inhibitor243
Ilaris128
ImbruvicaKinase inhibitor326
InflectraTumor necrosis factor blocker328
InfliximabTumor necrosis factor blocker515
Infliximab Recombinant111
JakafiJanus kinase inhibitor500
Jakavi135
KesimptaCD20-directed cytolytic antibody200
KevzaraInterleukin-6 receptor antagonist122
KeytrudaProgrammed death Receptor-1 blocking antibody163
KineretInterleukin-1 receptor antagonist107
KisqaliKinase inhibitor104
LeflunomideAntirheumatic agent428
LemtradaCD52-directed cytolytic antibody130
LenalidomideThalidomide analog329
LetrozoleAromatase inhibitor104
LevofloxacinFluoroquinolone antibacterial127
LipitorHMG-CoA reductase inhibitor104
Lyrica666
Mabthera139
MelphalanAlkylating drug185
MetforminBiguanide149
MethotrexateFolate analog metabolic inhibitor2,311
Methotrexate sodiumFolate analog metabolic inhibitor493
MethylprednisoloneCorticosteroid361
Minocycline hydrochlorideTetracycline-class drug103
MorphineOpioid agonist176
Morphine sulfateOpioid agonist159
MoxifloxacinFluoroquinolone antibacterial133
Mycophenolate mofetilAntimetabolite immunosuppressant856
NeoralCalcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant103
Neurontin103
NexiumProton pump inhibitor130
NivolumabProgrammed death Receptor-1 blocking antibody111
NucalaInterleukin-5 antagonist358
OcrelizumabCD20-directed cytolytic antibody188
OcrevusCD20-directed cytolytic antibody1,264
OlumiantJanus kinase inhibitor162
OmalizumabAnti-IgE201
OpsumitEndothelin receptor antagonist186
OrenciaSelective T cell costimulation modulator1,241
OtezlaPhosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor269
OxycodoneOpioid agonist132
PaclitaxelMicrotubule inhibitor124
PlaquenilAntimalarial465
PomalystThalidomide analog260
PrednisoloneCorticosteroid874
PrednisoneCorticosteroid1,592
Predonine124
Pregabalin262
PrografCalcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant129
ProliaRANK ligand inhibitor422
RebifInterferon beta136
RemicadeTumor necrosis factor blocker2,436
RemodulinProstacycline vasodilator117
RepathaPCSK9 inhibitor221
RevlimidThalidomide analog1,756
RinvoqJanus kinase inhibitor1,136
RituxanCD20-directed cytolytic antibody749
RituximabCD20-directed cytolytic antibody1,758
Sandostatin LAR Depot121
Shingrix131
SimponiTumor necrosis factor blocker675
SkyriziInterleukin-23 antagonist246
Sodium Aurothiomalate167
SolirisComplement inhibitor220
StelaraInterleukin-12 antagonist434
Sterile diluentInsulin analog177
SulfasalazineAminosalicylate596
SymbicortCorticosteroid149
TacrolimusCalcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant474
TaltzInterleukin-17A antagonist162
Tecfidera733
Thalidomide161
Tiotropium bromideAnticholinergic127
TocilizumabInterleukin-6 receptor antagonist239
TysabriIntegrin receptor antagonist1,536
ValtrexHerpes simplex virus nucleoside analog DNA polymerase inhibitor228
VedolizumabIntegrin receptor antagonist263
VelcadeProteasome inhibitor502
VenclextaBCL-2 inhibitor104
Vincristine305
XeljanzJanus kinase inhibitor3,595
XolairAnti-IgE402
XyremCentral nervous system depressant133
Zometa191
Zostavax172

The page of each drug has the count of each reaction term in its reaction lookup.

Drug classes in these reports

The table has the 54 pharmacologic classes with 250 or more reports that record this term. The rows are in order of name.

FDA says:

Additionally, it is important to remember that adverse event reports represent a small percentage of total usage numbers of a product. Common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product.

Source: openFDA, Drug Adverse Event Overview. The site read the page on .

Importantly, the AEMS data by themselves are not an indicator of the safety profile of the drug or biologic.

Source: FDA, FDA Adverse Event Monitoring System (AEMS) Public Dashboard. Content current as of . The site read the page on .

Pharmacologic classes of the drugs that the reports with the term Herpes zoster name, in order of name
ClassReports with this term
Alkylating drug1,507
Aminosalicylate612
Angiotensin 2 receptor blocker282
Anthracycline topoisomerase inhibitor508
Anti-epileptic agent418
Anti-IgE608
Anticholinergic286
Antimalarial1,706
Antimetabolite immunosuppressant1,171
Antirheumatic agent931
Bisphosphonate741
Calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant1,137
CD20-directed cytolytic antibody4,401
CD52-directed cytolytic antibody454
Complement inhibitor276
Corticosteroid4,415
Endothelin receptor antagonist452
Fluoroquinolone antibacterial359
Folate analog metabolic inhibitor2,868
GLP-1 receptor agonist358
Herpes simplex virus nucleoside analog DNA polymerase inhibitor678
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor340
Human immunoglobulin G454
Insulin analog428
Integrin receptor antagonist1,932
Interferon beta566
Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist368
Interleukin-12 antagonist479
Interleukin-17A antagonist945
Interleukin-23 antagonist337
Interleukin-4 receptor alpha antagonist1,320
Interleukin-5 antagonist448
Interleukin-6 receptor antagonist1,878
Janus kinase inhibitor5,800
Kinase inhibitor1,990
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug810
Nucleoside metabolic inhibitor887
Opioid agonist1,053
Parathyroid hormone analog411
PCSK9 inhibitor259
Phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor340
Platinum-based drug429
Programmed death Receptor-1 blocking antibody478
Prostacycline vasodilator336
Proteasome inhibitor986
Proton pump inhibitor390
Purine antimetabolite468
RANK ligand inhibitor454
Selective T cell costimulation modulator1,513
Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator1,279
Thalidomide analog2,384
Topoisomerase inhibitor375
Tumor necrosis factor blocker10,215
Vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor308

A class with many reports in all has many reports for almost every term.

Reports by month

Reports that record Herpes zoster, by month, five years to June 2026
025050020222023202420252026

FDA releases FAERS data every quarter, so the newest months are not complete. They grow in later releases.

Patients in these reports

Age of the patient in the reports that record Herpes zoster
AgeReportsShareShare as a bar
Under 2300.1%
2 to 112620.5%
12 to 173760.7%
18 to 445,68010%
45 to 6415,25626.9%
65 to 748,72915.4%
75 and over5,94810.5%
Age not given20,42436%
Sex of the patient in the reports that record Herpes zoster
SexReportsShareShare as a bar
Female36,09563.7%
Male14,76926%
Unknown or not given5,84110.3%

Age and sex are as the report gives them. 63.3% of these reports give the United States as the country.

Terms near this one

These are the next terms in the A to Z list. The links are for navigation.

Official pages

The site checked these addresses on . The links open in a new tab.

Cite this page

Reported Reactions. Herpes zoster: adverse event reports that record this term. https://reportedreactions.com/reaction/herpes-zoster/ Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, openFDA Drug Adverse Event (FAERS) files, release of . Reports received through .

Where the data come from

The counts come from the openFDA Drug Adverse Event (FAERS) bulk files, release of 1 Oct 2026. The files have the reports that FDA received through 30 Jun 2026. A drug name is the name on the report. The site matches it to a brand name or a generic name of the National Drug Code Directory of 2 Oct 2026. A class is the pharmacologic class (EPC) of the FDA label.

The count has the reports with each spelling of one MedDRA preferred term. The site does not publish a report narrative, a lot number, a detail of a patient or the identity of a reporter. The record of FDA is the authority. See how the site counts reports, the data sources and the corrections page.

Questions

What does Herpes zoster mean in an adverse event report?

In plain words: shingles. It is a MedDRA preferred term. FDA codes the description of a reporter with the MedDRA dictionary. The openFDA files do not have the description itself, and this site does not show it.

Does a drug in the table mean that the drug was responsible for this reaction?

No. FDA says:

No individual drug is connected to any individual reaction.

Source: openFDA, Drug Adverse Event Overview. The site read the page on .

When a report lists multiple drugs and multiple reactions, there is no way to conclude from the data therein that a given drug is responsible for a given reaction.

Source: openFDA, Drug Adverse Event Overview. The site read the page on .

What does this page tell a person who has this symptom?

This page gives counts of reports. It cannot assess a person. A pharmacist or a clinician can assess a person.

If this is a medical emergency, please call 911.

Source: FDA, MedWatch Online Voluntary Reporting Form. The site read the page on .