By MARILYNN MARCHIONE | Chief Medical Writer AP
Q. Can I take painkillers before or after the COVID-19 vaccine?
ONE. Do not take them before the injection to try to avoid a reaction to the vaccine. If your doctor agrees, it’s okay to use them later, if necessary.
The concern with prophylactic painkillers is that they may contain the very immune system response that a vaccine aims to stimulate. Vaccines work by tricking the body into thinking it has a virus and building a defense against it. This can cause temporary arm pain, fever, muscle pain or other symptoms of inflammation – signs that the vaccine is doing its job.
Some research suggests that certain pain relievers, including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and other brands), may decrease the immune system’s response. A study in mice suggests that these drugs may decrease the production of antibodies, which block the virus from infecting cells.
The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated its guidance to recommend pain relievers before a COVID-19 injection. He says that they can be taken later for symptoms, if you don’t have other medical conditions that would prevent their use, but to speak to your doctor.
If you’re already taking one of these medications for a health problem, you shouldn’t stop before getting the vaccine – at least not without asking your doctor, said Jonathan Watanabe, a pharmacist at the University of California at Irvine.
If you want to relieve symptoms after the injection, he added, paracetamol (Tylenol) is better because it works differently than some other pain relievers.
The CDC offers other tips, such as holding a damp, cold towel over the photo area and exercising your arm. For fever, drink plenty of fluids and wear light clothing. Call your doctor if the redness or tenderness in your arm increases after a day or if the side effects don’t go away after a few days, says the CDC.
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