Can I take painkillers before or after the COVID-19 vaccine?
It is best to avoid them, unless you routinely take them for a medical condition, experts say. Although the evidence is limited, some painkillers can interfere with exactly what the vaccine is trying to do: generate a strong immune system response.
Vaccines work by tricking the body into thinking it has a virus and building a defense against it. This can cause arm pain, fever, headache, muscle pain or other temporary symptoms of inflammation that can be part of this reaction.
“These symptoms mean that your immune system is accelerating and the vaccine is working,” said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, at a recent news conference.
Certain pain relievers that target inflammation, including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and other brands) may contain the immune response. A rat study published in the Journal of Virology found that these drugs can decrease the production of antibodies – useful substances that block the virus from infecting cells.
If you’re already taking one of these medications for a health problem, you shouldn’t stop before getting the COVID-19 vaccine – at least not without asking your doctor, said Jonathan Watanabe, a pharmacist at UC Irvine.
People should not take a painkiller as a preventive measure before receiving the vaccine, unless a doctor tells them to do so, he said. The same goes for after an injection: “If you don’t need to take it, you shouldn’t,” said Watanabe.
If you need one, paracetamol (like Tylenol) “is safer because it doesn’t change your immune response,” he added.
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.