The World Health Organization (WHO) advises people who suspect infection with the new coronavirus not to take the drug ibuprofen without medical advice. While there are no new studies showing that ibuprofen is associated with increased mortality, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said in Geneva on Tuesday. But the experts are currently reviewing the situation. “We recommend taking paracetamol and not ibuprofen in suspected cases,” said Lindmeier. This relates only to taking without medical advice, he emphasized.
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French health minister Olivier Véran caused a stir last weekend with a tweet warning of anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen. Anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen could make a coronavirus infection worse. In the case of fever, paracetamol should be taken, Véran advised. The national health director Jérôme Salomon had made a similar statement and advised against taking so-called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In addition to ibuprofen, this group of active ingredients also includes acetylsalicylic acid (ASA; aspirin) and diclofenac.
There is a contribution in the journal Lancet, mentioning a possible undesirable effect of ibuprofen. However, the number of cases in the study is extremely small.
In France, since January 15th Ibuprofen is no longer at the front of the pharmacy, but only behind the counter. The pharmacists sell it largely without a prescription. However, this should ensure appropriate advice.
The virologist Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit from the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM) did not rule out at the weekend that ASA in particular, but also ibuprofen, could not be helpful for the lung disease Covid-19. “Ibuprofen inhibits blood clotting, which would be a possible indication,” explains the virologist. This increases the risk of internal bleeding. “This is not the case with acetaminophen.” The risk of internal bleeding with this group of drugs has been known for a long time and does not only apply to an infection with Sars-Cov-2.
At the same time, rumors are circulating on social networks that ibuprofen also increases the susceptibility to infection with the coronavirus. The allegation is supported by an alleged study by the University of Vienna. The University clarified on Twitterthat the allegation was fakenews and had nothing to do with the educational institution. That too Austrian Ministry of Health explained the report about the false allegation.
Meanwhile, the Berlin Federal Ministry of Health also warned of false news and scaremongering in the corona crisis. “It is alleged and quickly spread that the Federal Ministry of Health / the Federal Government would soon announce massive further restrictions on public life. That is NOT true,” the ministry also wrote on Twitter on Saturday.
The false letter also includes the chain letter asking people to drink water permanently to protect themselves from infection. This is just as wrong as the self-test recommended in it.
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