I got a call today from GP offering vaccination tomorrow. Yay!
I recall I’m meant to continue pred as normal but I was wondering about paracetamol which I’ve been taking for a few days (operation on hand last Thursday, plaster off today and it’s a bit painful).
Any thoughts about what I should do in the morning about taking paracetamol? I’m thinking not to take. My jab is due at about 9:40 am.
Did you read the post a couple of days ago that said that Paracetamol and similar could interfere with the body’s immune response to the vaccine? I am afraid that I don’t remember who posted it and whether there was a link to more information, but it gave me pause for thought.
Hi, I had my Pfizer on Sunday and I was not told not to take painkillers before hand, I had taken 2 paracetamol and I also have a Fentalyn pain patch which was on the same arm as I was jabbed and nothing said, so I think if there was a major problem with interactions they would tell us well before you have the jab. I have been taking max dose paracetamol for many years now as have many people and it would cause widespread concern to these people if they had to permanently/temporarily discontinue the use of their pain meds.
As you haven’t been taking it for very long and if you can cope with the pain then it’s up to you how you proceed with this, maybe a call to your GP will ease your mind.
Good luck
Jan
I am taking Methotrexate and that really does lower my immune system. My doctor told me that I must take the vaccine. It will not help as much as someone with no health problems. I have so many. I am doing as the doctor says and taking the vaccine.
Ah well...too late for me. I have my vaccine today & have taken my painkillers, including paracetamol & tramadol this morning. I didn’t see the post the other day, Surely they would have said when appointment made, if this was of importance? And hundreds of people take morning painkillers?! Guess I’ve blown it now anyway! Too late!
Read PMRpro's explanation by following the link in BCol post above this one.
Don' think you have anything to worry about.
Nor me, if I don’t take pain meds at the moment I probably wouldn’t manage the walk into the cathedral this morning! My new RA pain is very acute & unmanaged. Besides, it would be on national tv, & every message re appointments or phone call would tell you not to take it etc etc! My view, anyway! Thanks, S x
Is your RA pain Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Yes, I think so. Diagnosed by doctor last Thursday, & I have an appointment with rheumy on Tuesday. Thought I’d wait weeks for one, but dr did referral same day as my appointment with him, & it’s all happening very fast. I haven’t seen a rheumy for Polymyalgia, I was offered but was happy to have monthly phone meeting with my gp, who has been excellent.
They are supposed to see RA patients quickly because the sooner the treatment is started the better in the long term.
Thanks. I was wondering what the ‘deal’ is, as so many depts are so far behind with appointments. I was hoping to wait until 3 weeks after my jab, but they’ve given me a first thing in the morning appointment & I’ve got FFP3 masks...so forward we go! Must admit...something does need to happen...I’m used to pain, but this is off the scale & I can hardly lift my left arm at all without severe acute pain! S x
You might like to look at this: arthritisaction.org.uk/livi...
mainly because Metho is the gold standard treatment for RA.
Thanks, I will. I’ve heard it has a lot of side effects, including nausea & sickness, & as I’m prone to side effects I’m nit looking forward to it! But if it helps, it’s worth it, thanks very much, S x
If you do decide to take it - a friend of mine eventually found it helped to take it at night...........
I was told to not take any INSAIDS because it will decrease the effectiveness of the vaccine. If this is your first vaccination, you are o.k. Don't take it with the second dose.
Had it two days ago. Nobody asked what tablets I take, I took my repeat prescription list just in case! My husband had a 3 page letter & he had to sign he was willing to have the jab & fill in a ‘next of kin’ form when he went! Think things change as they move along...they are interested to know if you are taking blood thinners & that’s on huge boards before you get ‘signed in’. No other drug warnings around at all.
There is something about needing a longer thinner needle for patients on anticoagulant therapy to reduce bleeding.
David has been on warfarin for ten years but went to one of the ‘ordinary people’ stations & watched as he always does & all I can say is that he f I both had the same length of needle...but then we may both have had the longer thinner needle! I think all I’m trying to say with the response to so many questions re the jab...read the booklets, if you have questions call the number given or phone your surgery. I feel if these things are vital they would have asked when I last took my tramadol, morphine & paracetamol sadly I’m taking all 3 right now), or asked which day I last took my azithromycin (I take 3 times a week for five months of the year). That’s all the help I can offer, really! S x
Hi, sorry to be so late in answering your reply. Here we are given a card at the first shot and have to bring it back for the second. We are also told to keep the card on file at home because we will probably need a third shot to cover all of the different forms of the virus. We have to use our driver's license to prove our identity each time. There were papers given to each person following the first shot that told us not to take any INSAIDS or medication for pain before our second shot. Then you were able to take your medicine after a four-hour period following the second shot. It just seems like a crazy mess and no one is sure what they are doing. The card has the vaccine manufacturer listed and the date it was given. We are told to not mix the different pharmaceuticals. We have Moderna and Pfizer.
Interesting...wondering where you live! Here in England we are given a card with details on etc, just the same. I was sidelined to a different short queue & given my vaccination by a doctor, who asked me quite a few questions first. But nothing about meds & when I take them, just about the diseases I suffer from. All is well. Thanks!
Hi, just to let you know that I live in the United States. Each of our states is handling this so differently. Today, two states, Mississippi and Texas, announced that all restrictions were going to be removed next week. Also, no masks are to be worn in those states. It is just crazy. Texas has had increased hospitalizations during the last two weeks. Now is not the time to be so lax. There are so many people here that have not received the vaccine. We have had so many deaths here in Ohio. My husband passed away last May. He had been in one of the nursing homes that had a very high rate of Covid-19 cases.
Very sorry to hear you lost your husband, so much sadness at this time. We usually visit the states twice a year, & have many friends there. In fact we were due there last August to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. Friends in Colorado have just had their second jab, & are only in their late 60’s, but are very happy to feel a little safer. I read that Texas has relaxed the mask wearing, but as the second highest State for number of cases, I believe, & rising case numbers, I thought this utter madness! I can’t believe you have lost half a million people, still losing over a thousand a day, but relaxing rules! I hope you stay safe in Ohio, I’m not sure your rules are stringent enough to beat the new variant that has now come your way, but hope it will be OK. Sending hugs, S x
It is said to be OK if you take them more than 4 hours after the vaccine and the study that found it may be a problem for children having their childhood vaccines (they didn't look at adults) found the opposite, with or without painkillers the immune response recovered and was the same after the seconf jab.
If you can manage to do so - wait until lunchtime and take the paracetamol then. But if you need it for pain, you need it for pain.
Thanks dear friends. I didn’t take any paracetamol (just usual pred) and now I’ve had my first vaccine. Only problem is that I feel quite emotional. The GP who did my dx (and since put me on AA and statins) was there and we all had a lovely bit of banter!
I was asked few questions when .y appointment was made, 1 was what medication I take daily so they could check it against my medical record she had in front of her, I said paracetamol as well she didnt say to me I shouldn't take it
PMR and Pfizer Covid Vaccine
Paracetamol/Tylenol
Covid vaccine oxford 
Vaccine 
