Can I take painkillers before or after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Do not take them before the injection to try to prevent the symptoms, but if your doctor agrees, it is okay to use them later, if necessary.
The concern with 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 painkillers, including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and other brands), may decrease the immune system’s response. A study in rats suggests that these drugs may reduce the production of antibodies, which block cells infected by the virus.
Other research has found that painkillers can decrease the response to some childhood vaccines, so many pediatricians recommend that parents avoid giving their children the drugs before the injection and only if necessary afterwards, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at the University Vanderbilt.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated their guidelines to recommend against painkillers 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.
“If you have a reaction afterwards and need something, take some acetaminophen,” agreed Schaffner. He added that the immune response generated by the vaccines is strong enough that any dampening effect of the painkillers is mild and does not harm the vaccines.
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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