Tryon Medical Partners rheumatology team has received new recommendations from the American College of Rheumatology about how patients with rheumatic conditions should handle their medications when getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
Below is an alphabetical listing of common rheumatology prescription drugs, and whether or not patients should stop taking them immediately before or after getting their COVID-19 vaccine. If a drug is not listed, general guidance is that no modifications are needed.
This information is applicable for all currently available COVID-19 vaccines. Please know these are general guidelines and do not replace the clinical counsel of your individual physician.
- Actemra: No modifications recommended
- Anti-TNF: No modifications recommended
- Leflunomide: No modifications recommended
- Plaquenil: No modifications recommended
- Prednisone: No modifications recommended
- Sulfasalazine: No modifications recommended
- Methotrexate: Hold for one week after COVID 19 vaccine
- Orencia IV: Time vaccine administration so that the first vaccination will occur four weeks after the last Orencia infusion, and postpone the subsequent Orencia (abatacept) infusion by one week (i.e. a five-week gap in total); no medication adjustment for the second vaccine dose
- Orencia SQ (subcutaneous): Hold one week prior to and one week after the first COVID-19 vaccine dose (only); no interruption around the second vaccine dose
- Rinvoq: Hold dose for one week after COVID 19 vaccine
- Rituxan: Schedule the vaccination so that the series is initiated four weeks prior to the next Rituxan cycle; after vaccination delay Rituxan two to four weeks after the second dose, if disease activity allows
- Xeljanz: Hold dose for one week after COVID 19 vaccine