In this post, we’ll be looking at the possibility of using over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen to treat COVID related symptoms. Through various pieces of research, it seems as though ibuprofen could be an effective tool to limit some of the difficulties associated with COVID-19 symptoms.
According to BBC News, there is a new trial underway to determine whether ibuprofen will help those already infected by COVID-19. The team working on this trial is composed of people from London’s Guy’s Hospital, St. Thomas’s Hospital, and King’s College. The drug is not meant for use as a cure, but they believe that ibuprofen’s painkiller and anti-inflammatory properties could help patients with breathing difficulties.
In the trial, a special form of ibuprofen will be used instead of the regular, over-the-counter tablets that most people would buy. Previous studies done in animals have shown that ibuprofen can treat one of the more severe complications of coronavirus: acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Although, there is a debate on whether non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen would produce negative effects instead of positive. However, the World Health Organization has stated that there is no evidence of “severe adverse events… in patients with COVID-19” due to the use of NSAIDs. This trial has not concluded yet, but there are still over-the-counter options for those who have contracted coronavirus. Regarding the use of drugs such as ibuprofen as a treatment for coronavirus symptoms, the University of Chicago Medicine recommends acetaminophen, naproxen, or ibuprofen to treat fevers, body aches, etc. However, this is only if one does not have a health history that prevents the safe and effective use of these drugs.
by Elaine Park
Sources
1. Roberts, Michelle. “Coronavirus: Ibuprofen tested as a treatment.” BBC
News, 2 June 2020.
2. “The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in patients
with COVID-19.” World Health Organization, 19 April 2020.
3. Landon, Emily. “Which over-the-counter medications are best for
coronavirus symptoms?” UChicago Medicine, 7 May 2020.
