Categories: Sci/Tech

WHO, French Health Minister Warn Against Taking Ibuprofen for COVID-19 Symptoms

"We recommend using paracetamol, and not ibuprofen," said a WHO representative.

French health minister Olivier Veran and World Health Organization spokesperson Christian Lindmeier have warned the public about the possible negative effects of ibuprofen for individuals with COVID-19 symptoms.
While there still isn’t a scientific study to back the claim, Lindmeier said using paracetamol may be better for now.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has a word for people who may be experiencing symptoms of coronavirus: do not take ibuprofen. This warning comes after French authorities explained that taking the medicine could possibly bring negative effects.

According to Olivier Veran, health minister of France, a study published in medical journal The Lancet claims that ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory drugs can do more harm than good when it comes to the dreaded disease.

French Health Minister Olivier Veran

Christian Lindmeier of WHO was eventually asked about the subject and while the official said that the UN is already studying the matter to give people “further guidance.”

“In the meantime,” added Lindmeier, “we recommend using rather paracetamol, and do not use ibuprofen as a self-medication.”

Lindmeier, however, added that ibuprofen should only be used when prescribed by a physician.

Meanwhile, pharmaceutical firm Reckitt Benckiser issued a statement pointing out otherwise.

The company, which manufactures Nurofen, labels ibuprofen as” a well-establiahed medicine” that has been safely used for “self-care fever and pain reducer, including viral illnesses, for more than 30 years,” their representative said.

Moreover, some health experts also believe there isn’t concrete evidence that ibuprofen truly worsens COVID-19.

As Professor Parastou Donyai of the University of Reading explained, there are numerous studies that claim taking ibuprofen worses respiratory infections, she still wouldn’t dismiss the medicine as a potential cure.

Donyai said:

“I have not seen any scientific evidence that clearly shows a totally healthy 25 year old taking ibuprofen for symptoms of COVID-19 is putting themselves at additional risk of complications.”