Advice re stopping meds on week of covid vaccine!

[Sunshine-star5]

Hi everyone,

I would like to know what others have been told to do re "stopping or not stopping medication " when having the covid vaccination ?

As there seems to be no clear guidance on this!

I would love to know what others have been advised from Rheumy consultants?

I take Methotrexate injections 20 mg and Benepali weekly injections.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Thanks in advance for any replies

[Pinkypie2018]

Everyone seems to get different advice so its best to ask your own team for advice. For my first vaccine I was told to stop methotrexate for two weeks but continue sulfasalazine and biologic injection. But I've flared quite badly since that. Had a f2f on Tuesday and was told not to stop meds for second vaccine. In fact I got my second vaccine on Tuesday also and had to inject imraldi injections that same day. Thankfully I got no side effects. I just have to wait two weeks now to start a course of steroids.

[SamNRAS]

Good morning Sunshine-star5. You can find information on this that may be useful on the NRAS website here: nras.org.uk/resource/freque... Bw, Samuel

[springcross]

Hi Sunshine-star5. I contacted my rheumy department before my first vaccine and was told not to stop my MTX injection even though it would be on the same day as the vaccine and I will be doing the same on Saturday when I have my second vaccine (it was confirmed in a letter). That said, I am not on a biologic or similar so I think it would be best to check with your rheumy team. x

[medway-lady]

I did and wished I hadn't ! But I was on antibiotics too. It was awful but really its up to your RA team. I hope whatever you do your vaccine is side effect free.

[MadBunny]

I would echo what others have said- it depends on personal circumstances so best check with your rheumatology team. My nurse told me not to have a vaccine until I had spoken to one of the team.As I am in remission I was told to stop meds for 2 weeks before and after the jab.but the nurse did check re pain and joint swelling first. I'm on methotrexate and Cimzia . I did start to get some pain in my hands before I started up again though.

[Chockyuk]

I wasn’t advised to stop, so I carried on taking my meds, I’m on Mthx. But maybe best to check with your Dr.

[GlamNana]

i had my second injection on Wednesday. The lady who rang me up to book asked me about injections said not to take it for 3 days before and 7 days after . when i had ut the nurse told me 7 days after

[oldtimer]

This has been discussed often on here so you can access the previous posts by using the search box top right.Basically it is an individual decision tailored for you by your rheumy team.

There was a paper which found that some people had better results from vaccines if they stopped their methotrexate for a short period. But it is not advisable to do this if you personally are likely to have a flare which would put you more at risk of serious harm from Covid19.

[liz3583]

I never stopped taking my methotrexate. i take methotrexate in pill form. After 1st Astra Zenica vaccine I was ill for two days. I had a flare up in my hips plus felt shivery and sick. After two days I was fine. Had my second vaccine and was totally fine. To be honest I took two paracetamols 4 hours before my second vaccine then two again after the vaccine and 2 more four hours later. Felt absolutely 100%. Hope you will be pain free

[Poshcards]

told not to take my metho, 25ml week following jab xx

[goldenfroggy]

I take Rasuvo (injection methotrexate). My doctor told me not to take it the week following my vaccine — the vaccine and the MTX could work against each other.