Does immunosuppressive property of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce COVID-19 vaccine-induced systemic side effects?

• Published in: Drug Discoveries & Therapeutics Vol. 15; no. 5; pp. 278 - 280
• Main Authors: Kazama, Itsuro, Senzaki, Momono
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: International Research and Cooperation Association for Bio & Socio-Sciences Advancement 31-10-2021
• Subjects: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); side effects; vaccine
• ISSN: 1881-7831; 1881-784X
• DOI: 10.5582/ddt.2021.01094

To help stop the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, vaccines are currently the most critical tool. However, the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines frequently cause systemic side effects shortly after the injection, such as fever, headache and generalized fatigue. In our survey, after receiving the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, 80% developed fever, 62% headache and 69% generalized fatigue. Among people who required antipyretics, the average durations of fever and headache were significantly shorter in those who took non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, loxoprofen and ibuprofen, than those who took acetaminophen. In our patch-clamp studies, NSAIDs effectively suppressed the delayed rectifier K+-channel (Kv1.3) currents in T-lymphocytes and thus exerted immunosuppressive effects. Because of this pharmacological property, the use of NSAIDs should be more effective in reducing the vaccine-induced systemic side effects that are caused primarily by the enhanced cellular immunity.