The COVID-19 vaccine is being distributed throughout the country and, like many other vaccines, you can experience side effects such as fatigue, headaches, chills, joint pain and fever as your body develops an immune response. If you are concerned about dealing with these side effects, you may be wondering if it is safe to take a pain reliever with the COVID-19 vaccine and if there is any risk of lowering your body’s natural defenses. We asked experts.
Can I take a pain reliever after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine?
Alaina Brinley, MD, PhD, a California emergency room physician specializing in infectious diseases and global health, told POPSUGAR that it is generally considered safe to take fever reducers and pain killers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, after receiving the vaccine.
“Some studies looking at the generation of antibodies after vaccination and the concomitant use of antipyretics have shown a possible blunted antibody response of unknown clinical significance,” explained Dr. Brinley. “In normal English, this basically means that some studies have found that antibody production has been reduced, but it was unclear whether that reduction mattered for real immunity or the function of the immune system against a specific bacterium or virus.” Dr. Brinley added that the diminished effect of the antibodies does not appear to occur after booster doses of the vaccines – so it is perfectly normal to take an over-the-counter pain reliever after your second Pfizer or Moderna injection, when side effects are more common.
Amit Kumar, PhD, researcher, scientist and CEO of Anixa Biosciences, agrees. “Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever after vaccination should not be a problem,” said Dr. Kumar to POPSUGAR. “You can take it on the same day as the vaccination, if necessary.”
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Do not take other vaccines at the same time you are taking the COVID-19 vaccine, experts say
Can I take a pain reliever before I have side effects?
The two doctors said that you should not take a painkiller as a preventive measure before receiving the vaccine. Instead, Dr. Brinley recommends taking medication only if you start to experience symptoms – and if your symptoms are mild, try to avoid taking them at all.
“Ideally, if you can endure pain or fever without the medication, it is better to have a vaccine or not,” said Kumar. “Of course, if the fever or the pain is very severe, then take the medicine.”
Dr. Brinley, who took ibuprofen and paracetamol after receiving the second dose of the vaccine, emphasized that the most important thing is to get vaccinated. “Your A lot of better to get a vaccine and take a pain reliever with her than not to get any vaccine, “she said.” If you feel that your symptoms are interfering with your ability to function normally, I would go ahead and take something. [There’s] it doesn’t make sense to be miserable! “
POPSUGAR aims to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information on the coronavirus, but the details and recommendations on this pandemic may have changed since publication. For the latest information on COVID-19, check the resources of WHO, CDC and local public health departments.