Drug Discov Ther. 2021;15(5):278-280. (DOI: 10.5582/ddt.2021.01094)

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

Kazama I, Senzaki M


SUMMARY

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.


KEYWORDS: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), vaccine, side effects, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

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