Did you take painkillers for vaccine side effects?

[nordica]

Had my 2nd Moderna vaccine yesterday and feeling pretty awful now - headache, temperature, intermittent chills and a very painful arm. They said at the vaccination centre that it was ok to take paracetamol but I've also read experts recommend not taking anything as dulling the inflammation in the body can lead to fewer antibodies being made.

Just curious what others have done? I don't mind a day or two feeling awful if it's better in the long run. I need to be somewhere Monday morning though so I'm hoping to feel better by then.

It's normally taking paracetamol in advance that can dull the immune response. It's perfectly OK to take it if you're having side effects

Yes paracetamol. A few hours after the vaccine though, not before

Yes, I did.

I was told by the paracetamol was fine that's general advice with all vaccinations isn't it?

I took paracetamol. My arm was agony and my head was a bit sore. Lady who gave me the vaccine said I could take paracetamol so I did.

I am in exactly the same quandary now. Had my second Moderna yesterday at BDC, it’s brutal. High grade fever, headache, super high heart rate that stopped me sleeping, and the most awful arm pain.

Wrestled with taking paracetamol all night long but didn’t as afraid it will dampen my immune response. I’ve read some scientific papers on it and it seems they just don’t know.

The issue is taking it beforehand not for when you are having side effects

I’m feeling shocking after 2nd moderna this morning. Nausea and vomiting plus aching sore limbs. Have just taken paracetamol and ibuprofen as the person who injected me advised.

I’ve had my second modern a today,

First one i onl,y had a sore arm. Thought I d got away with it!

But this one I’m feeling pretty ropey already. Just very achey, spaced and mega hot (though have just had a bath, which may be the cause).

Take some anadin extra and hitting the wine so hope it’ll be ok tomorrow.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen

Yes, paracetamol helped, side effects went after 24 hours.

Well all my symptoms just moderated dramatically at about the 30 hour mark without paracetamol. Like flicking a switch, very strange.

I waited till I had symptoms before taking paracetamol but was taking prescription slow release ibuprofen so had that in my system already. The nurse specifically said to take paracetamol if I had side effects. No idea if the ibuprofen had an adverse effect (I haven't caught COVID yet) but it had no effect at all on the banging headache I had for 48 hours, while the paracetamol did help a bit - or maybe it was the combination! (Pfizer).

@IndigoC

Well all my symptoms just moderated dramatically at about the 30 hour mark without paracetamol. Like flicking a switch, very strange.

Similar here. Symptoms started 24 hours after the second vaccine, I felt horrible for 12 hours, then it switched off suddenly and I felt fine again. Really weird.

Interesting, I hadn't heard that you shouldn't take paracetamol before the vaccine but only afterwards! Is that confirmed medical advise now as everyone I know has taken paracetamol but not ibuprofen 2 hours before being jabbed...

We were all told at the vaccine centre to take paracetamol.

You are absolutely fine to take painkillers for side effects. I took paracetamol and brufen as I felt so ill.

General advice is usually to take paracetamol, but only after vaccination when (if) the side effects start:
www.healthline.com/health-news/should-you-take-pain-relievers-after-covid-19-vaccine.

However there's probably no impact even when it's taken before, as long as the vaccine has boosters: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5027726/.

Thank you all. I didn't end up taking anything but feel a lot better today, the temperature is gone and my arm hurts a lot less too. The worst side effects were around the 30 hours post-jab point and now coming up to 48 hours are almost gone. Definitely recommend Friday morning as a great time to have the 2nd mRNA jab!

Glad you feel better, OP.

I was absolutely rotten for almost a week after my first AZ. I take painkillers (codeine and/or tramadol) daily anyway for rheumatoid arthritis so I just upped my dose for a few days. I had taken my usual morning dose before I went for my jab but only found out after that some pain killers might affect efficacy. Not unduly worried though, and also took them before my second jab (although I had no side effects after that one).