Vaccines - pre-medicate or NOT, an answer

[KewlKat]

Per medical websites, it’s NOT recommended to Pre-medicate BEFORE vaccines for most. Read below.

Should I take Tylenol or Motrin before my vaccination?

If you regularly take aspirin, acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g., Motrin, Advil) for other medical conditions, continue to do so as directed by your physician or as needed. Otherwise, do not pre-medicate. Taking over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen before receiving a vaccine may reduce its ability to work and blunt your immune response to the vaccine. After the vaccination, you can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen if it is otherwise safe to do so and if you have symptoms that make you uncomfortable.

https://www.bannerhealth.com/healthcareblog/advise-me/what-to-expect-when-you-get-the-covid-19-vaccination



ADDITIONAL INFO - from WebMD

Take painkillers before so you’ll hurt less later. Alternate advice: avoid them so they won’t interfere with your immune response: Some people think taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin before a vaccination “will interfere with the immune response to the vaccine,” Kaplan says. “There is no scientific data to substantiate this. However, NSAIDs may precipitate an allergic reaction in some people. Since we do not know with any certainty if and how NSAIDs affect allergic reactions to the COVID vaccines, I advise against taking NSAIDs before and for 2 hours after your vaccination, unless instructed [otherwise] by your physician.”

“There is no need to ‘pre-medicate’ with any medications for the vast majority of people,” agrees Glatt, who’s also a professor of medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. For aches, chills, and mild allergic reactions that may occur after the vaccination, taking acetaminophen or an NSAID is generally OK, he says.

https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/20210127/covid-19-vaccine-how-best-to-prepare




I’m not an authority, just sharing info. I’ve seen many posts saying do and don’t pre-medicate to minimize side effects of the vaccines and thought it deserved it’s own thread. I hate to see anyone do something that could minimize the effectiveness of the vaccines.

[phylny]

1. Thank you for this info.

We get our first vaccines today.

[KewlKat]

2. Your welcome.

[phylny]

4. My brother got the Moderna vaccine

and he advised taking Tylenol afterward, especially after the second dose. He was also told to drink lots of water.

[KewlKat]

9. Thank you for sharing this info.

[Baclava]

3. Thx, today is the big day for me, dose #1 of Moderna, I've just been drinking OJ and V8, lol

And cereal with milk, of course

[KewlKat]

6. We've had our 1st Moderna. No 2 is what has me concerned

My very elderly Uncle and Aunt also get their second near 26 Feb and I’m hundreds of miles away so getting them prepared is my number one priority right now. I need to know how to get them past any post shot symptoms.

Good luck.

[Mike 03]

5. I've been wondering about other anti-COVID regimens

Things like Vitamin D, zinc, selenium,Vitamin K have been recommended by physicians as part of a potential regimen to limit illness. Some people also take melatonin and Pepcid. I wonder if those should be stopped before getting vaccinated, or if anyone has looked into it?

Thank you for this information. I will also pass it on to my mother, who just became eligible for a vaccination.

[Captain Zero]

7. I read keep taking usual dose of vitamin d

Before first vaccination and increase the vitamin D between the vaccinations to 6000 units per day. Then back to usual vitamin d dose after the second vax.

[KewlKat]

8. Interesting info. I'll check that out.

I have a double mutated gene making it difficult to maintain a healthy D3 level. I currently take 25,000 IU daily just to get it to low normal. Have for years. I have a numerous autoimmune diseases so I hope the vaccine works for me. I had no side effects from shot number one.

[Mike 03]

10. Thank you so much for this info.

That's great to know.

[KewlKat]

17. I found some info on WebMD regarding priming the immune system but also says no scientific data that

shows it will prevent or improve the immune response to a vaccine.


Prime your immune system: Others say having the healthiest immune system possible before getting vaccinated is crucial, and that taking the right mix of vitamins and minerals can help strengthen it. Prompted by the COVID pandemic, a Boston-based company is marketing Vacci-Prep, a mix of vitamins C, A, and D3, along with zinc, selenium, amino acids, and probiotics.

“We recommend starting it 7 days before the vaccine and 7 days after,” says Martin Floreani, president and CEO of Dentovations, the company making the new drug combination, which is expected to be available online in mid-February. He acknowledges no research exists to verify it can increase the immune response to the COVID vaccines, but he says the list of vitamins and minerals was chosen based on other research suggesting the supplements helped immune response with other vaccinations.

For instance, he cites a study finding that having a healthy level of vitamin D was linked with a better response to the flu vaccine in a small study of prostate cancer patients. Another study found that giving children vitamins A and D when they were low in those vitamins improved responses to the flu vaccine.

Kaplan is skeptical. “There is no scientific data that shows that taking any vitamins, mineral, or probiotics prior to the vaccination will prevent an allergic reaction or will improve the immune response to the vaccine,” she says. She recommends getting enough sleep, staying physically active and well-hydrated, along with eating well to give your immune system the best chance to “do its job.”

https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/20210127/covid-19-vaccine-how-best-to-prepare

[snowybirdie]

11. Anyone have info

about premeditation before moderna shot if there's a fear of allergic reaction? Thinking of downing a few benedryl because I had anaflaxis over 25 years ago.

[KewlKat]

13. You should check with your doctor if you can. There is

A questionnaire you complete, they call it a consent form, that does ask about past allergic reactions, I.e., anaphylaxis.

[flying_wahini]

15. Do NOT take Benedryl or anything to compromise your response for the first 12 hours or so.

Most people will have a reaction. Mild to moderate swelling of the area with some heat and redness for the first couple of days is expected. Both my vaccines gave me a minor redness and swelling return after a week or so.
That’s what the vaccine is supposed to do.

There are reactions and there are Anaphylactic reactions. They are Not the same.
The people I know that have had bad reactions have them in the first 5-10 minutes. That’s why they ask you to wait for 15 minutes.

The second one will knock you down for the first 36-48 hours. It is expected and means your body has learned to recognize the virus. If you take any meds to reverse the response (lower fever or allergy meds) you may not get the full benefit of the vaccine.

You are actually advised to avoid alcohol for the first week or so after receiving the shots.

[snowybirdie]

20. Thanks all of you.

Last time I tried to speak with my doctor, A nurse called me and said CDC advised against getting the shot. That was blatantly wrong. Going to call today and demand a better answer.

[KewlKat]

16. I found some info - may help?

From WEBMD -

Since allergic reactions, some severe, have been reported after doses of both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, some people with allergies say they’re intending to “pre-medicate” with extra antihistamines or other allergy medications. Not a good idea, experts say.

If you already take medications for allergies, such as antihistamine medicines, “you shouldn’t stop them before your vaccination,” Kaplan says.

There are no specific recommendations to take allergy medications like Benadryl before the vaccination, she says. Antihistamine medications, unless advised by your doctor, are not likely to prevent a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine, “but may blunt the allergic symptoms and make it harder to diagnose the allergic reaction and delay treatment.” But if you have a history of a severe allergic reaction to a previous vaccine, or anything in a vaccine, Kaplan says to discuss what to do with your doctor beforehand.

https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/20210127/covid-19-vaccine-how-best-to-prepare

[Squinch]

18. Was the anaphalaxis from something usually found in vaccines? If not, I was told there

would be no problem with my food anaphalactic allergy and there was none after my first Moderna jab.

In the room where we were being observed post-vaccine in a medium sized hospital, the room attendant said there had been no reactions at all to either vaccine in that hospital other than two people having panic attacks because they had read so much about possible reactions.

[KewlKat]

19. Thanks for the additional info. My spouse has a penicillin allergy which we indicated but it

never caused anaphylaxis.

[Squinch]

22. There is so much out there to make us nervous. My experience with the first Moderna

was a raised hot itchy circle on my arm that showed up 5 days after the shot and that lasted for 5 days. Not a big deal at all.

I'm a little nervous about the second one which I get this Saturday. I'm preparing my home as if I will have the flu for 2 days (having ginger ale on hand and some pre-made food, some NSAIDS to take more than 2 hours after the jab if needed, and a good series to watch on TV.)

Whatever it brings, it's better than Covid!

I'll let you know how it goes.

And PS: Thanks so much for this thread! I've been wondering about how to medicate if I get those flu symptoms.

[KewlKat]

23. Our second shot is 1 March. Other family is 26 Feb.

We have so many of our WI branch that won't get the vaccine........sigh

[flying_wahini]

33. The second one (Moderna) was pretty rough the next day but completely gone the day after that.

I ached all over, felt like I had NO energy and even my skin hurt.
Drink plenty of fluids and hunker down at home. No biggie but don’t go to work.

[Squinch]

34. Thank you for the information! Not looking forward to it!

But a heart to you for helping me prepare!

[ChazII]

28. I am also have a penicillin allergy

but I am not eligible for the shot yet as I am 62. It is good to know that his allergy had no effects.

[Voltaire2]

12. Anecdotally: just stop worrying.

I know 5 people, including me and my wife, and my wife knows more, all have had the first shot, some the second, none have had discomfort worse than a flu shot. In other words, for most people your arm is sore for a couple of days.

The shingles vaccine is much worse.

[KewlKat]

14. Thanks.

[snowybirdie]

21. Thanks

Had the shingles vaccine with no problem. My allergies are penicillin and NSAIDS. A crapshoot for sure. Glad a hospital is across the street from my vaccine site. LOL

[Footay]

24. My experience

I had the Pfizer, so YMMV...

Shot at 10 am. Went home after work, ate dinner, and took a Tylenol PM (pain reliever and ingredient in benedryl). Went to sleep about an hour later, woke up the next morning and went to work. No issues.

[KewlKat]

26. Thank you for the feedback

[roamer65]

25. I didn't.

Really didn’t need to until about 2 days after.

[KewlKat]

27. Interesting. So did you take something then?

[roamer65]

32. A couple of 500mg Tylenol when I got achy.

[MyNameGoesHere]

29. Doctor Underground says

Consult a real doctor for these questions. But my only qualification is I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express. Your doctor is immensely more qualified than Doctor Underground.

[timms139]

30. Talked to hospital

this morning before taking the first shot Wednesday. They advised to take all my medicine as normal and if I took blood thinners that they would hold me an extra couple of minutes after the shot. I don't take thinners so I should be good to go.

[KewlKat]

31. Yes, the blood thinner question is on the consent we filled out. My Aunt is on them but they

didn't even keep her the 15 mins...

Glad you got your questions answered by the professionals.