There is insufficient evidence to prove the commonly-used painkiller ibuprofen worsens of Covid-19 symptoms, experts have claimed.
There had been debate online about the use of the drug in treating symptoms of coronavirus, and there was confusion last month when a French health minister suggested that anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, could worsen the infection.
But an expert working group on coronavirus has now concluded there is currently insufficient evidence to establish a link between the use of ibuprofen and the virus.
The Government said: “The Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) Expert Working Group on coronavirus (Covid-19) has concluded that there is currently insufficient evidence to establish a link between use of ibuprofen, or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and susceptibility to contracting Covid-19 or the worsening of its symptoms.
“Patients can take paracetamol or ibuprofen when self-medicating for symptoms of Covid-19, such as fever and headache, and should follow NHS advice if they have any questions or if symptoms get worse.”
The latest comes after the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) and the CHM were tasked with reviewing any evidence linking the commonly-used pain killer and worsening cases of Covid-19.
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