Did I screw up my Covid vaccination by taking Advil a few days later?
April 9, 2021 5:39 PM Subscribe
I got my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine on a Saturday morning. I took a huge amount of Advil the following Tuesday chasing the worst headache of my life. Did I screw up or was it far enough out that I’ll be okay?
I heard we’re generally advised to avoid NSAIDs after the shot, and I didn’t take any on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday even though the body aches were pretty awful. But then the headache started on Tuesday — probably not related, right? — and I was so miserable that I couldn’t sleep and couldn’t handle my (unavoidable) responsibilities. I took about ten 200 mg pills over the course of the day. Which I know is more than you’re supposed to take under normal circumstances anyway, but it wasn’t helping and I was desperate.
I’m prone to irrational anxiety. But it’s really been gnawing at me for the last few weeks, so I’m going to burn a question here to get a general idea of if I screwed up and if so, how badly. What would the effect be? The protection dropping from 95% to something less?
All the guidance I’ve seen hasn’t said how long you should wait before returning to taking Advil by the handful.
I heard we’re generally advised to avoid NSAIDs after the shot, and I didn’t take any on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday even though the body aches were pretty awful. But then the headache started on Tuesday — probably not related, right? — and I was so miserable that I couldn’t sleep and couldn’t handle my (unavoidable) responsibilities. I took about ten 200 mg pills over the course of the day. Which I know is more than you’re supposed to take under normal circumstances anyway, but it wasn’t helping and I was desperate.
I’m prone to irrational anxiety. But it’s really been gnawing at me for the last few weeks, so I’m going to burn a question here to get a general idea of if I screwed up and if so, how badly. What would the effect be? The protection dropping from 95% to something less?
All the guidance I’ve seen hasn’t said how long you should wait before returning to taking Advil by the handful.
Best answer: You do not have to wait, you may take whatever you want immediately afterwards with the blessing of the CDC. They just didn't test taking it beforehand so they don't recommend doing so. Everything else you see on the subject is evening news/clickbait.
posted by Lyn Never at 5:45 PM on April 9, 2021 [24 favorites]
posted by Lyn Never at 5:45 PM on April 9, 2021 [24 favorites]
Best answer: Also you can trust pharmacists on this stuff. Some of them may be miserable people but they are obligated to care a ton about drug interactions and the directives they're supposed to follow for administration.
posted by Lyn Never at 5:47 PM on April 9, 2021 [13 favorites]
posted by Lyn Never at 5:47 PM on April 9, 2021 [13 favorites]
Best answer: The doctor who gave me Pfizer#2 suggested taking tylenol or ibuprofen before bed, as he said he was up that 1st night with chills/ fever. I did, and took more the next day, because I needed it. Whatever paperwork you got should have a number you can call, and that's a good resource.
posted by theora55 at 6:08 PM on April 9, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by theora55 at 6:08 PM on April 9, 2021 [2 favorites]
Best answer: IIRC, they only recommend against taking it *before* the dose so the meds don't temporarily cover up an adverse reaction.
posted by Rhaomi at 6:12 PM on April 9, 2021 [10 favorites]
posted by Rhaomi at 6:12 PM on April 9, 2021 [10 favorites]
The site I went to was run by FEMA and the literature they handed out on aftercare specifically suggested taking ibuprofen afterwards if you experienced pain.
posted by augustimagination at 8:05 PM on April 9, 2021
posted by augustimagination at 8:05 PM on April 9, 2021
Yeah, the pharmacist who administered my Pfizer #1 used these specific words: "You may use the pain reliever of your choice at any time after your initial 15 minute wait time."
"Including Ibuprofen?" I asked.
"Including Ibuprofen."
FWIW, I'm still achy and tired on Friday, and I got the shot on Tuesday. I'm also eating everything I can get my hands on.
posted by halfbuckaroo at 8:09 PM on April 9, 2021
"Including Ibuprofen?" I asked.
"Including Ibuprofen."
FWIW, I'm still achy and tired on Friday, and I got the shot on Tuesday. I'm also eating everything I can get my hands on.
posted by halfbuckaroo at 8:09 PM on April 9, 2021
The concern over NSAIDs and acetaminophen blunting the effects of vaccination is neither clickbait, nor misinformation, but the answer is still very, very, very probably that you're fine. Our knowledge in incomplete, so there are few certainties, but the chance that ibuprofen has interfered with your immunization seems extremely remote.
A 2009 article in The Lancet reported on a randomized, controlled study of infants receiving acetaminophen before immunization, which showed reduced antibody response compared to those who did not receive it.
In 2016, however, Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics published a review of several studies. The conclusion included such statements as:
"In all studies that reported a negative effect on antibody response, the medications were given prophylactically. Interestingly, this effect was not seen when acetaminophen was given only four hours after immunization."
and
" . . . the 2009 Prymula study did not answer the question because the acetaminophen-associated antibody blunting that was observed following vaccination still resulted in protective antibody levels. Additionally their follow up study showed a robust antibody response following booster vaccine doses."
In other words, you don't need to worry.
posted by wjm at 1:28 AM on April 10, 2021 [4 favorites]
A 2009 article in The Lancet reported on a randomized, controlled study of infants receiving acetaminophen before immunization, which showed reduced antibody response compared to those who did not receive it.
In 2016, however, Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics published a review of several studies. The conclusion included such statements as:
"In all studies that reported a negative effect on antibody response, the medications were given prophylactically. Interestingly, this effect was not seen when acetaminophen was given only four hours after immunization."
and
" . . . the 2009 Prymula study did not answer the question because the acetaminophen-associated antibody blunting that was observed following vaccination still resulted in protective antibody levels. Additionally their follow up study showed a robust antibody response following booster vaccine doses."
In other words, you don't need to worry.
posted by wjm at 1:28 AM on April 10, 2021 [4 favorites]
I too was told to take whatever pain reliever I wanted after my 15 mins wait. My arm felt like someone punched me hard five or six times in my bicep, so I did.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 6:37 AM on April 10, 2021
posted by WalkerWestridge at 6:37 AM on April 10, 2021
Forget about taking something after; I loaded up on one tablet of each of Aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, Aleve and Benadryl BEFORE I got my second dose. I wasn't taking any chances with post prick joint pain.
It's been a week and I haven't died yet … So there's one data point for you.
posted by indianbadger1 at 2:04 PM on April 11, 2021 [1 favorite]
It's been a week and I haven't died yet … So there's one data point for you.
posted by indianbadger1 at 2:04 PM on April 11, 2021 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by liet at 5:43 PM on April 9, 2021 [1 favorite]