Medications that Suppress the Immune System
Certain medications suppress the immune system, like those used in chemotherapy and systemic steroids. These medications are significant causes of shingles. Drugs that reduce the strength of the body’s immune system are called immunosuppressants.
Immunosuppressants are typically used to ensure that the body doesn’t reject a transplanted organ like the heart, liver, or kidney. Another name for medications meant to suppress the immune system is anti-rejection drugs.
Typical uses of these medications include treating conditions like lupus, psoriasis, Cron’s disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and alopecia areata. Apart from shingles, these drugs could cause common side effects like fever or chills, pain in the side of the lower back, urinating problems, pain while urinating, and unusual tiredness or weakness.