Took Ibuprofen for 2nd Vaccine

Updated:   Published

I had my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine 1/9.  I was terrified of the potential side effects.  One hour after administration, I took 600mg of Ibuprofen.  I continued a regimen of 600mg q6h for the next 36 hours.  Despite being bathed in ibuprofen, I still had symptoms of malaise, nausea, headache, chills, and body aches.

I am terrified that I ***ED up.  That I blunted my immune response.  My crazy, neurotic, busy, fearful brain is ruminating on this. Perseverating.  I called Pfizer to inquire.... they couldn't say one way or another.  I've interrogated the pharmacists at my hospital... asked physicians.... no one can really say with any certainty.  

I am scared that I ***ED up my only chance at being vaccinated by drowning myself in Advil.

has anyone else done what I've done?

Any thoughts? Help!

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
On 1/15/2021 at 1:01 PM, jlv613 said:

I had my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine 1/9.  I was terrified of the potential side effects.  One hour after administration, I took 600mg of Ibuprofen.  I continued a regimen of 600mg q6h for the next 36 hours.  Despite being bathed in ibuprofen, I still had symptoms of malaise, nausea, headache, chills, and body aches.

I am terrified that I ***ED up.  That I blunted my immune response.  My crazy, neurotic, busy, fearful brain is ruminating on this. Perseverating.  I called Pfizer to inquire.... they couldn't say one way or another.  I've interrogated the pharmacists at my hospital... asked physicians.... no one can really say with any certainty.  

I am scared that I ***ED up my only chance at being vaccinated by drowning myself in Advil.

has anyone else done what I've done?

Any thoughts? Help!

This is your immune system ramping up. Mine did the same. It's really a good sign. Ibuprofen is hard on the kidneys, so I am glad you realized you have taken that much and backed off. Acetaminophen is hard on the liver, as you likely know. 

I took 2 Naproxen after my shot. And tylenol later. I felt malaise mostly but no pain.

Specializes in ICU/CCU/Oncology/CSU/Managed Care/ Case Management.

I do not have the link, but I read a research article from a group of scientists out of France that do not recommend using ibuprofen in relation to covid diagnosis or covid vaccine. The French scientists recommend acetaminophen. If anyone can find that article please post it. 

 

Thank you

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

 

On 1/28/2021 at 3:52 PM, Bella RN said:

I do not have the link, but I read a research article from a group of scientists out of France that do not recommend using ibuprofen in relation to covid diagnosis or covid vaccine. The French scientists recommend acetaminophen. If anyone can find that article please post it.

Thank you

 

British Medical Journal  3/17/2020

Covid-19: ibuprofen should not be used for managing symptoms, say doctors and scientists

Quote

Scientists and senior doctors have backed claims by France’s health minister that people showing symptoms of covid-19 should use paracetamol (acetaminophen) rather than ibuprofen, a drug they said might exacerbate the condition.

 

Later info:

Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy   9/07/20

NSAIDs like ibuprofen not tied to severe COVID-19, death

Quote

Contrary to early reports, the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen is not associated with severe COVID-19 disease or death, according to a cohort study published yesterday in PLOS One....

...Relative risks among users, nonusers

There were no significant differences between NSAID users and non-users in terms of 30-day death rate (6.3% of NSAID users vs 6.1% of non-users), hospitalization (24.5% vs 21.2%), or intensive care unit (ICU) admission (4.9% vs 4.7%)....

...Still, "considering the available evidence, there is no reason to withdraw well-indicated use of NSAIDs during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic," the authors wrote. "However, the well-established adverse effects of NSAIDs, particularly their renal, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular effects, should always be considered, and NSAIDs should be used in the lowest possible dose for the shortest possible duration for all patients."...

 

 

On 1/15/2021 at 4:01 PM, jlv613 said:

I had my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine 1/9.  I was terrified of the potential side effects.  One hour after administration, I took 600mg of Ibuprofen.  I continued a regimen of 600mg q6h for the next 36 hours.  Despite being bathed in ibuprofen, I still had symptoms of malaise, nausea, headache, chills, and body aches.

I am terrified that I ***ED up.  That I blunted my immune response.  My crazy, neurotic, busy, fearful brain is ruminating on this. Perseverating.  I called Pfizer to inquire.... they couldn't say one way or another.  I've interrogated the pharmacists at my hospital... asked physicians.... no one can really say with any certainty.  

I am scared that I ***ED up my only chance at being vaccinated by drowning myself in Advil.

has anyone else done what I've done?

Any thoughts? Help!

I cannot comment on the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-I have my second dose scheduled next week. For my own sanity-I will not be taking anything and just plan on braving it out.

However, the whole fever reducer thing was preached to me by my daughter’s pediatrician-don’t give anything post vaccine or it would decrease immune response, blah, blah, blah....well, new mom listened to seasoned doc-and had 2month old baby screaming bloody murder in pain when she woke up with a sore leg a couple hours later for over 90 minutes. That baby got medicated after every vaccine as a precaution to prevent that traumatized experience to reoccur. There was a measles, chicken pox, and flu outbreak in her class when she was 8. Must of had a cluster of antivaxxers. Some of the children she was friends with-she didn’t get sick so I’m assuming my Tylenol dosing her after her vaccines did not stop them from working. Yeah, we could check titers to be sure on the measles and chicken pox but why put the child through it right now? 
 

I know it’s not an answer to you question but I thought I’d share that other vaccines seem to not have been affected, at least from my experience.

My COVID19 paperwork told me I could take Tylenol for a headache if needed. Maybe that offers some peace?

Specializes in PICU.

I took Tylenol about 2 1/2 hours before my second dose, I had a little headache in the morning.. I took it again later in the day because I was worried about the response.

The next day my arm was sore, had a little headache, took some more Tylenol because I did not want to feel crappy. Had a little cough, just tired feeling. 

No one ever asked me or prepped us to not take anything before or after vaccination, many people I know bathed themselves in Ibuprophen or Tylenol.

 

I believe current info suggests that taking any OTC analgesic/fever reducer is OK if taken AFTER the vaccine. I have seen some conflicting reports of that immune response blunting issue occurring in people that pre-medicate prior to getting vaccinated. I took tylenol about 12 hours after my vaccine and then again the next day. I honestly wouldn't worry too much about it. From what I've read, even if you did pre-medicate or the OTC meds did cause blunting, I think it is somewhat minuscule. My hospital told me to only take tylenol after the vaccine and for 2-3 weeks after the vaccine. I highly doubt that there would be a drastic impact on the immune response to the point that it would significantly decrease your immunity. 

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