Can you take Ibuprofen after the COVID booster vaccine?
Ibuprofen can be taken after the COVID booster vaccine if you want to relieve any vaccine-related side effects such as a sore arm, headache, or fever. The usual dosage of ibuprofen for adults after the booster is 200 to 400mg up to 3 or 4 times a day. In addition, you should also take it easy for the rest of the day after your vaccination, apply ice or a cool washcloth to the injection site, and keep up your fluids. There is currently no strong evidence to suggest that taking ibuprofen after your COVID booster shot reduces your immune response to the vaccine.
Taking ibuprofen just before your booster vaccination, to prevent possible side effects, is not recommended because some older studies have suggested that this may affect how your immune system responds to the vaccination. If you regularly take ibuprofen for other reasons, then you can take it as usual.
You are considered fully protected from COVID-19 two weeks after your booster shot.
References
- Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Dampen the Cytokine and Antibody Response to SARS-CoV-2 Infection
- Jennifer S. Chen, , Mia Madel Alfajaro, , Ryan D. Chow , Jin Wei, , Renata B. Filler, , Stephanie C. Eisenbarth, , Craig B. Wilen,craig.wilen@yale.edu
- Ibuprofen. Revised 08/2022. Chartwell RX, LLC. https://www.drugs.com/pro/ibuprofen.html
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Can you take ibuprofen on an empty stomach?
Despite popular belief that you have to take ibuprofen with food, you can take ibuprofen on an empty stomach and this will give you faster pain relief than taking it with food. Food increases the time it takes for ibuprofen to be absorbed, although it won't affect how much is absorbed. There is actually no evidence that taking ibuprofen with food prevents gastric irritation – ibuprofen at OTC doses has a low incidence of gastric irritation anyway. Continue reading
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