Avoid
taking ibuprofen for Covid-19 symptoms: WHO
March
18, 2020
GENEVA: The World Health Organization
recommended Tuesday that people suffering Covid-19 symptoms avoid taking
ibuprofen, after French officials warned that anti-inflammatory drugs could worsen effects of the virus.
The
warning by French Health Minister Olivier Veran followed a recent study in The
Lancet medical journal that hypothesised
that an enzyme boosted by anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen could
facilitate and worsen COVID-19 infections.
Asked
about the study, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva the
UN health agency's experts were "looking into this to give further
guidance."
"In
the meantime, we recommend using rather paracetamol, and do not use ibuprofen
as a self-medication. That's important," he said.
He
added that if ibuprofen had been "prescribed by the healthcare
professionals, then, of course, that's up to them."
His
comments came after Veran sent a tweet cautioning that the use of ibuprofen and
similar anti-inflammatory drugs could be "an aggravating factor" in
Covid-19 infections.
"In
the case of fever, take paracetamol," he wrote.
The
French minister stressed that patients already being treated with
anti-inflammatory drugs should ask advice from their doctor.
Paracetamol must be taken strictly
according to the recommended dose, because too much of it can damage the liver.
The Covid-19 pandemic, which
has infected around 190,000 people worldwide and killed more than 7,800,
causes mild symptoms in most people, but can result in pneumonia and in some cases severe
illness that can lead to multiple
organ failure.
Even
before the pandemic, French authorities sounded the alarm over serious "infectious
complications" linked to the use of ibuprofen, which is sold under
various brands like Nurofen and Advil, and other anti-inflammatory drugs.
A
spokesperson for British pharmaceutical company Reckitt Benckiser, which makes
Nurofen, said in an email statement that the company was aware of concerns
raised about "the use of steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
(NSAIDs) products, including ibuprofen, for the alleviation of Covid-19
symptoms."
"Consumer
safety is our number one priority," the spokesperson said, stressing that
"Ibuprofen is a well-established
medicine that has been used safely as a self-care
fever and pain reducer,
including in viral illnesses, for more than 30 years."
"We
do not currently believe there is any proven scientific evidence linking
over-the-counter use of ibuprofen to the aggravation of Covid-19," the
statement said.
The
spokesperson said Reckitt Benckiser was "engaging with the WHO, EMA (the
European Medicines Agency) and other local health authorities" on the
issue and would provide "any additional information or guidance necessary
for the safe use of our products following any such evaluation." -- AFP
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