Scientists are facing another challenge in the treatment of COVID-19. COVID-19 treatment which is mainly focused on managing symptoms seems to be aggravated by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen. This is according to a tweet that was recently posted by the French minister of Health, Olivier Veran.
Olivier Veran instead advised people who are having fever to use paracetamol and avoid anti-inflammatory drugs.
The warning came in response to a letter published by the Lancet medical journal that hypothesized that an enzyme boosted by anti-inflammatory drugs could inflame and exacerbate corona virus infections.
This has triggered a backlash form Dr. Anthony Fauci who terms it as ‘an urban legend’. On the 18th of March, 2020, Fauci said that the claim has no solid backing. "I think it was a conflating of some medical issues ... may be true, may not, but there’s no good scientific evidence that says ibuprofen can make corona virus worse," Fauci said while appearing on Barstool Sports' "Pardon My Take" podcast.
Another expert that cast doubt on this claim is an Infection Global Health Division researcher at University of St. Andrews. He also tweeted, @There’s no scientific evidence I am aware of that ibuprofen [causes worse] outcomes in #COVID19.
Other experts argue NSAIDs should be avoided even without a well understood connection between its action and the aggravation of COVID-19. Rupert Beale, a group leader in cell biology of Infection at the United Kingdom’s Francis Crick Institute said, “There is a good reason to avoid Ibuprofen as it may exacerbate acute kidney injury brought on by any severe illness, including severe COVID-19 disease.”
This argument was supported by Professor Charlotte Warren-Gash, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. "Most deaths from COVID-19 have been among older people and those with underlying health conditions such as cardiovascular disease. We already know that NSAIDs should be prescribed with caution for people who have underlying health conditions," she told CNN.
With Veran’s message going viral, many are wondering which over the counter medication should be used to treat COVID19 symptoms. This has made Ibuprofen to be moved behind the counter in France while in Britain, the use of Ibuprofen has been limited to the lowest dosage possible.
In this respect, almost all experts agree on the preferred drug of choice: Paracetamol, a widely available medication used to treat pain and fever, which is also known as Panadol and Tylenol, and is known in Israel as Acamol.
