Gardasil, or Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus Recombinant vaccine, protects recipients from certain strains of human papillomavirus, or HPV. HPV strains 6 and 11 can cause genital warts, while HPV strains 16 and 18 can cause cervical cancer. Kristi Monson, PharmD and Arthur Schoenstadt, MD, authors of the eMedTV article “Gardasil Side Effects,” notes that while most people who get Gardasil tolerate the vaccine, some people can have side effects, which can affect the brain and nerves.
Dizziness
Monson and Schoenstadt point out that up to 4 percent of Gardasil recipients have dizziness. When a person feels dizzy, she can have vertigo, in which it appears that her surroundings are spinning around her. Fatigue, lightheadedness and nausea can occur with the dizziness. Some people may have a loss of balance and unsteadiness, which can make it difficult to move. Other dizziness symptoms include difficulty concentrating and weakness, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Anxiety
The Mayo Clinic notes that while the percentage of occurrences is not known, some Gardasil recipients develop anxiety. When patients have anxiety, they have uncontrolled worry or fear that can be brought on by specific events, such as a job or medical appointment. People experiencing anxiety can have physical symptoms, such as sweating, trembling and rapid breathing. Dry mouth, dizziness and headache may occur. Anxiety can also interfere in behavior and cognition, with symptoms including decreased concentration and irritability.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Monson and Schoenstadt explain that Gardasil recipients can develop Guillain-Barré syndrome, though it is rare. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke notes that Guillain-Barré syndrome is a condition in which the patient's immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system contains the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord, such as the motor nerves, sensory nerves and autonomic nerves, or the nerves that control involuntary functions. When patients have Guillain-Barré syndrome, they experience weakness or tingling in their legs. As the condition progresses, the changes in sensation spreads to patients' arms and upper body. As the sensation changes worsen, patients have a harder time using their muscles, resulting in paralysis.
Seizures
Another rare neurological side effect, seizures may occur in some people after receiving Gardasil, according to Monson and Schoenstadt. Seizures occur from a change in electrical activity in the brain. That abnormal electrical activity disrupts normal neurological communication, causing symptoms like changes in consciousness. Patients who have altered consciousness during the seizure do not remember what happened. Seizures can also cause muscular symptoms, such as muscle tension and twitching. Some patients may have changes in sensation that affects their skin, such as tingling.
References
- eMedTV: Gardasil Side Effects
- MayoClinic.com: Human Papillomavirus Vaccine, Quadrivalent (Intramuscular Route) – Side Effects
- MayoClinic.com: Dizziness – Symptoms
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Stress and Anxiety
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Guillain-Barré Syndrome Information Page
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