On Tuesday, the World Health Organization recommended that people suffering from COVID-19 symptoms avoid taking ibuprofen.
This came after French officials warned that anti-inflammatory drugs could make the virus worse.
French Health Minister Veran's warning follows a recent study in the medical journal The Lancet, which suggested that an enzyme stimulated by anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen could worsen COVID-19 infection.
When asked about the study, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva that experts from the UN health agency are “studying it for further guidance.”
'In the meantime, we recommend using paracetamol rather than using ibuprofen as self-medication. This is important, 'he said.
He added that if ibuprofen was “prescribed by a doctor, then of course the appointment should be followed.”
His comments came after Veran posted a tweet warning that the use of ibuprofen and similar anti-inflammatory drugs could be an 'aggravating factor' in COVID-19 infections.
https://twitter.com/olivierveran/status/1239931737549033472
“Take paracetamol for fever,” he wrote.
The French minister stressed that patients who are already receiving anti-inflammatory drugs should consult a doctor.
Paracetamol must be taken strictly according to the recommended dose, as too much of it can damage the liver.
The COVID-19 pandemic, which has infected about 190,000 people worldwide and killed over 7,800, causes mild symptoms in most people, but can lead to pneumonia and, in some cases, serious illnesses that can lead to multiple organ failure.
Even before the pandemic, French authorities had sounded the alarm about serious 'infectious complications' associated with the use of ibuprofen, sold under various brands such as Nurofen and Advil, and other anti-inflammatory drugs.
A spokesman for British pharmaceutical company Reckitt Benckiser, which produces Nurofen, said the company is aware of problems associated with 'the use of steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) products, including ibuprofen, to relieve' the symptoms of COVID-19.
'Consumer safety is our number one priority,' said the spokesman, stressing that 'ibuprofen is a well-established drug that has been used safely as a treatment for fever and pain relief, including viral diseases, for 30 years.' .
“We do not currently believe there is any scientific evidence linking over-the-counter ibuprofen use to an exacerbation of COVID-19,” the statement said.
The spokesman said Reckitt Benckiser is 'liaising with WHO, EMA (European Medicines Agency) and other local health authorities' on this matter and will provide 'any additional information or guidance needed to safely use the company's products.'
Sources: Agence France-Presse
