I'm writing on behalf of my mother who got the shot earlier today.

Although she's seems to be doing fine after the shot, she has another issue - She has some dental problems, and needs to take a painkiller for her teeth. Only problem is, that there are have been some contraindications in the press in regards to taking any painkillers when getting vaccinated. I know they specifically state not to use them prior, but as for afterwards, there seems to be mixed opinions in the Medical press. I told that maybe she should try some tooth related painkillers instead, and wait to take her regular painkiller (Tylenol) later on.

Therefore, I was wondering, do any of our resident MD's here have any recommendations as to what I should tell her to do? Hold off, or go ahead and take them?

I think it's ok to take after the shot, just not before. I'll let the Dr.'s confirm this.

What I heard was that you should try to avoid taking them until after the symptoms have passed because they can interfere with your immunity response and thus make the vaccine less effective. I have no idea if this is really true or not, but it kind of made sense to me.

Not a doctor.

Theoretically it may decrease your response, especially NSAIDs. It is just an unknown at this time.

I think it will become a non-issue as data is collected.

CDC says it's ok afterwards: OTC Pain Meds

SIAP

(P.S. I'm ~4 hours out after receiving Pfizer #1 today. No arm reaction or any other issues so far, although inoculation #2 is more typically when the 24-hour "flu-like" symptoms may occur.)

The reality is this is a very loosely and completely unresearched recommendation (not taking any NSAIDs before the vaccine), and in my opinion not necessary. With no other vaccines has there ever been a recommendation to avoid these meds, especially when they state that people who regularly take NSAIDs don't need to stop them before getting vaccinated. This is another example of more unfounded guessing in the management of this virus. Each time it is couched as logical and being done out of an abundance of caution. I wouldn't have a problem with the recommendation if the CDC would preface it with the disclaimer "this is a wild-ass guess".

Had my 2nd Moderna dose yesterday and have been taking acetaminophen today for the body aches (just avoiding ibuprofen so as not to interfere).

Likely anti-vaxxer-type hype. Same people who won't give a kid tylenol because the fever tells us that the immune system is working. Yeah, right, like I'm just gonna let my kid sit there with a 103 because granola mom might judge me. If you hurt, take the painkiller.