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Don't Take Ibuprofen For Coronavirus

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pastafreak | 23:14 Mon 16th Mar 2020 | Body & Soul
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In today's Guardian ...apparently it can aggravate symptoms and suppress inflammation which is part of the body's defence mechanism.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/16/health-experts-criticise-nhs-advice-to-take-ibuprofen-for-covid-19
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The article says, 'Public Health England said there was currently insufficient information on ibuprofen use and Covid-19 to advise people to stop using ibuprofen. “Currently there is no published scientific evidence that ibuprofen increases the risk of catching Covid-19 or makes the illness worse. There is also no conclusive evidence that taking ibuprofen is harmful for other respiratory infections,” it said in a statement.

“Most people with Covid-19 will have a mild illness and some people may need to take medicines, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, to help with raised temperature, headache and other pains; always follow the instructions on the label if you do take these medicines and do not exceed the stated dose.

“Patients who have been prescribed NSAIDs for long-term health problems should continue to take them as directed by their healthcare professional,” the statement added.'

I think we need to be careful about contradicting the current official guidance.

Is Gabapentin anti flam?
I think itis too early to tell

no -- - - Gaba P is NOT an inflam drug
Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant.
Thank you Peter.
Been taking Gabba since having shingles last summer for after effects.
Used for nerve pain, yes - if you have been told to take it then continue.
It's flared up again today. Redness, itchy burning and tiny spots.
Thanks Mamya.
Just read this FB. Someone who has a nurse in family told them, that those unfortunately died from corona virus, had Ibuprofen in their system. It seems to make virus worse, she was saying..
it is too early to tell

for a variety of reasons - the data is not strong ( low numbers)
and - it is a non prescrip med so people may not have been asked
and it is confounded by other drugs ( of which steroids is one - which I have to say I wouldnt use ever)
observation thrown up by case series such as these may idenfy false leads

it is mainly being old, and male and faving heart disease ( surprisingly not lung disease)
Oh drat. Been given steroids for Crohns flare up, but not taken any for a week, tablets and enemas.
Don;t panic, this advice although not totally substantiated is for those trying to treat the fever and constant cough that the virus brings.

If in doubt about continuing ongoing meds then telephone your surgery.
Will do Mamya.

(My word there are clever helpful people here on AB.
Wish I could give people advice, but not many want to know about making a wooden tea pot stand). :-)
I understand the problem is we are overdosed with dribs and drabs of information from all sides and sometimes we only pick up parts of what the message is.
I understand that it’s important NOT to suppress the fever, & allow it to run its course.

Julius Wagner won his Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1926 by curing tertiary syphilis by infecting them with malaria which caused fever. Once the fever had cured the syphilis it was comparatively easy to cure the malaria.
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Corby...the article also says...

" “I would advise against that,” said Prof Ian Jones, a virologist at the University of Reading. “There’s good scientific evidence for ibuprofen aggravating the condition or prolonging it. That recommendation needs to be updated.”

Paul Little, a professor of primary care research at the University of Southampton, said: “The general feeling is that the French advice is fairly sensible. There is now a sizeable literature from case control studies in several countries that prolonged illness or the complications of respiratory infections may be more common when non-steroidal anti-inflammatories [NSAIDs] are used.”

A trial by Little and his colleagues, published in the BMJ, found patients with respiratory infections such as coughs, colds and sore throats who were prescribed ibuprofen rather than paracetamol by their GP were more likely to subsequently suffer severe illness or complications. Several other studies have linked anti-inflammatory drugs to worsened pneumonia.

Little said this could be because inflammation is part of the body’s natural response to infection. “If you’re suppressing that natural response, you’re likely inhibiting your body’s ability to fight off infection,” he said. "



I am talking about the official guidance as issued by Public Health England.

If there is sufficient evidence for the advice to be changed, no doubt it will be but until then, there is no official advice to stop taking ibuprofen.
A less hysterical view - the scientific jury are still out.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/51929628

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