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Covid

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Original poster

Pre vaccine paracetamol.

29 replies

Timeisavirtue · 15/03/2021 23:05

I’ve heard it on good authority that if you take paracetamol 2/3 hours before your vaccine it apparently curbs some onset side affects. I’m not sure if this applies to all vaccines though. Anyone else heard this and maybe tried it, due for my vaccine next tuesday and don’t usually take pain meds so don’t want to if it’s a waste of time

OP posts:

NiceViper · 15/03/2021 23:06

Please would you cite your 'good authority' who is saying this?

Belle1983 · 15/03/2021 23:09

My partner did this, and he took a couple of doses prophylactically afterwards.
Our worry was that if he spiked a temperature which is perfectly normal after any vaccine, he would be assumed to have covid and would not be allowed into hospital if I went into labour.
No idea if it helped, but he had no symptoms.

It's no different to given babies calpol after their vaccines really.

ThatDamnKrampus · 15/03/2021 23:09

I took painkillers before my AZ vaccine - I had the worst headache I've experienced and pins and needles in my arm and hand. The headache took days to leave.

Painkillers didn't stop that. Although I didn't have any flu like symptoms so.who knows? Maybe my symptoms were less than they would have been 🤷🏼‍♀️

ErrolTheDragon · 15/03/2021 23:11

I'd be surprised, the effects (if you have any) are unlikely to start till well after that would have worn off. Save it for if you have a headache later, I'd have thought.

Original poster

Timeisavirtue · 15/03/2021 23:18

@NiceViper

Please would you cite your 'good authority' who is saying this?

2 family friends who are senior in the nhs

OP posts:

NiceViper · 16/03/2021 07:49

'Senior in the NHS' could mean anything - I can see why you might not want to interrogate your friends. But this isn't evidenced, and obviously I can't prove a negative.

In general its recommended that you take/give paracetamol only when you have a side-effect that needs a pain killer.

Taking painkillers as prophylaxis does not prevent side effects, but means that some may pass unnoticed as you have already taken the analgesia and there is no need to wait for it to take effect. Assuming of course that the onset of the side effect in question is pretty immediate after the jab.

Worth having paracetamol in the house just in case

Weepingwillow22 · 16/03/2021 07:55

There is some evidence that paracetamol before your vaccine will negatively affect your immune response.
journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0098175

DinosaurDiana · 16/03/2021 07:56

There is no need to take paracetamol unless you need it.
The side effects for me didn’t start until the next morning.

starfish4 · 16/03/2021 08:04

I'd have thought it a good thing to naturally let your immune system kick in even with dude effects.

I felt sick after mine, paracetamol wouldn't have helped with that. DH said he felt like he had the flu but still worked an eight hour day.

ginoclocksomewhere · 16/03/2021 08:10

I was told by a doctor patient of ours that PKs shouldn't be taken BEFORE the vaccine, it can stop the vaccine working as efficiently.

Mindymomo · 16/03/2021 08:14

I had my AZ vaccine on Saturday and expected to be laid up in bed Sunday, but I didn’t have any side effects at all. I have slept really well since which is good for me as I usually wake up 2/3 times each night.

MozzchopsThirty · 16/03/2021 08:22

Paracetamol is not recommended before any vaccine
The whole point being that the vaccine will provoke an immune response
Temp, tiredness, achy are all normal and all adults should be able to cope with this without analgesia
(I say this as someone who loves taking tablets )

Chillychangchoo · 16/03/2021 08:28

My sister is a vaccination nurse and her along with all her colleagues have recommended taking paracetamol a few hours before, and then to keep taking.

OverTheRainbow88 · 16/03/2021 08:32

I think it’s good for the body to fight the infection; so I wouldn’t recommend doing that.

The body has a temp to fight off and kill an infection etc it’s the body’s way of attacking

dementedpixie · 16/03/2021 08:34

It has been shown with some vaccines that taking paracetamol beforehand can affect the immune response. If you get symptoms afterwards then its OK to take paracetamol at that point.

VienneseWhirligig · 16/03/2021 08:47

I took two Zapain before my jab (for back pain rather than in anticipation of the jab iyswim) and still had awful side effects that started a few hours later. The needle didn't hurt at all though, I barely felt it.

ittakes2 · 16/03/2021 09:10

I have read the research for children's vaccines saying the did a sample of half of a group of children taking paracetomol before a jab and the other half not - and the half who didn't take paracetomol had a better immune response. In general I believe its don't take the pain meds before a jab although its OK to take it afterwards if you get a temp or feel sore.

annonnymous · 16/03/2021 09:45

I think the advice is only give calpol to babies after their jabs if they are unwell. A small spike in temp shows the body has reacted and has started to produce antibodies to the vaccine, which is what we want it to do. I think I read some research saying that to suppress the temp also suppresses (only a small amount) the antibody production. Sorry I may have that wrong, but it's best to let nature (well, vaccines) take its course.

dementedpixie · 16/03/2021 09:50

The only jab where its advised to give paracetamol as standard is the MenB injection given at 8 weeks and 16 weeks (its also given at 1 year but paracetamol isn't given as standard after that one). 3 doses of paracetamol should be given after the MenB. Its not advised for any of the others unless there are symptoms afterwards

notrub · 16/03/2021 11:31

Generally you are advised NOT to take paracetemol/ibruprofen before a vaccination as these analgesics suppress your immune system.

However, I have seen a study on the AZ vaccine that demonstrated no noticeable difference on antibody generation between those who took paracetemol and those who didn't.

As far as side effects go, there is no obvious mechanism by which paracetemol taken before could reduce side effects, and no data to suggest it does...... so personally I'd refrain and wait until the effects show. That approach is better for your liver too!

Athinginitself · 16/03/2021 17:19

Side effects arent going to start immediately. I think mine started at least 8 hrs later. If you feel rough take some paracetamol then, theres no evidence that paracetamol will prevent side effects.

EmmaGellerGreen · 16/03/2021 17:35

I’m baffled that you’ve been told something by 2 people you know who are senior in the NHS abs then you ask random strangers their opinion!

Spodge · 16/03/2021 18:30

In the AZ trial they did some prophylactic paracetamol trials too. There was a reduction in side effects but it wasn't massive. I was researching prophylactic paracetamol use which is how I came across this. In the event I didn't think it was worth bothering.

FuzzyPuffling · 16/03/2021 18:32

[quote Weepingwillow22]There is some evidence that paracetamol before your vaccine will negatively affect your immune response.
journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0098175[/quote]
This.
Better off not to take it unless you need it.

Himawarigirl · 16/03/2021 18:33

I read in the paper that taking paracetamol beforehand can dampen the body’s response to the vaccine. So it’s best to let it do it’s thing and take any pain relief as needed afterwards.

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