Don’t take these over-the-counter drugs before your COVID vaccine, experts say

If you’ve been successful in securing an appointment for a coveted COVID vaccine, you’ll probably want to make sure it goes as smoothly as possible. That’s why experts warn that there is a common habit that could actually make your COVID vaccine less effective. If you take two common over-the-counter medications, you may be setting yourself up for shorter immunity. Read on to find out which pills you shouldn’t take until you get your COVID vaccine, and if you want to protect yourself. after you get your vaccine, be aware that Dr Fauci says doing this after being vaccinated is a huge mistake.

In a new interview with ABC News, Simone wildes, MD, a member of the Massachusetts COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Group and infectious infectious disease specialist at South Shore Medical Center, says ibuprofen, the effective ingredient in drugs like Advil and Motrin, and acetaminophen, present in Tylenol, could make the COVID vaccine less effective. While some people may take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to ease the pain associated with injections, Wildes says, “We do not recommend premedication with ibuprofen or Tylenol before COVID-19 vaccines due to the lack of data on its impact on vaccine-induced antibody responses. . “

According to a 2009 study published in the journal Lancet, among 459 healthy infants, half of whom received paracetamol, an acetaminophen-based pain reliever, before a vaccine and half of whom received a placebo, immune responses to the vaccine “were significantly lower in the prophylactic group paracetamol ”, the study authors found.

Although acetaminophen and ibuprofen can both help reduce unpleasant side effects of the vaccine, such as fever, researchers at the American Society for Microbiology have found that taking NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) – a class of drugs which includes ibuprofen – “could be harmful or beneficial., depending on the time of administration.” Craig B. Wilen, MD, assistant professor of laboratory medicine and immunology at Yale University School of Medicine, noted that specific NSAIDs have been shown to “[dampen] the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. “

“We recommend that unless people have a substantial reaction to the first dose, they [pain relievers], ” William schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, explained to ABC News.

However, taking over-the-counter pain relievers is not the only factor that could affect your immunity. Read on to find out what might make your vaccine more or less effective. And if you are wondering how the vaccine might affect you, be aware that this side effect of the COVID vaccine could appear a week after your injection.

If you want the COVID vaccine to improve your physical well-being, improving your mental health first can help. New Ohio State University College of Medicine study accepted for publication in Perspectives on Psychological Science, if you are stressed, your immunity to COVID may be lowered after being vaccinated compared to less stressed people. And for more information on vaccines that might affect you, know that if you’re over 65, you shouldn’t get this new vaccine, experts warn.

Likewise, researchers at the Ohio State University College of Medicine who wrote the Perspectives on Psychological Science One study found that emotional stressors, including depression, “can interfere with the body’s ability to develop an immune response.” And for the latest COVID news delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.

If you want to maximize the effectiveness of your COVID vaccine, a neighborhood jog might just be what you need. According to the researchers behind the aforementioned study, “simple things can be done to maximize the initial effectiveness of the vaccine,” including “vigorous” exercise in the 24 hours before the vaccine. . And for more on what to expect from the new vaccine, these are the side effects of the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Need an excuse to show up early? A good night’s sleep might just be the best way to boost your immunity with your COVID vaccine. The study researchers note that “even shorter-term interventions can be effective” in boosting immune function before vaccines, recommending anyone who gets the shot to get enough sleep in the 24 hours before their scheduled appointment. vaccination. And to find out where COVID is spreading, find out how serious the COVID outbreak is in your condition.