The government's medicines advisory body has determined that there is currently insufficient evidence to establish a link between the use of ibuprofen and coronavirus.
The Commission of Human Medicines (CHM) Expert Working Group on coronavirus (COVID-19) said on Tuesday (April 14) that “patients can take paracetamol or ibuprofen when self-medicating for symptoms of COVID-19,” which could include fever and headache.
If the symptoms get worse, patients are advised to follow NHS advice.
The CHM’s advice is when taking over-the-counter medicines, such as ibuprofen and paracetamol, one should “always read the patient information and follow the instructions on how to take the medicines.”
When prescribing ibuprofen, Healthcare professionals are advised to consider a patient’s individual risk factors such as any history of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal illness or known renal impairment.
The lowest effective dose of ibuprofen should be used for the shortest duration necessary to control symptoms, the CHM says, adding that patients who have been prescribed NSAIDs as a treatment for a long-term condition, such as arthritis, should keep taking these medicines as normal.
Additionally, adult patients who take low-dose 75 mg aspirin regularly for prevention of heart attacks or for vascular disease should continue to do so.
Any suspected side effects from a medicine, including OTC products, should be reported to the Yellow Card Scheme, it adds.
