Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) used for the treatment of inflammation and mild pain in rheumatoid artritis, osteoartritis, menstrual cramps or premenstrual pain and menstrual edema¹.

According to an article published on March 11, 2020 in Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal scientists hypothesized that ACE (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme) inhibitors, sartan drugs, thiazolidinediones and ibuprofen can worsen the symptoms of COVID-19 because SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) binds to the target cells via ACE2 enzymes². To clarify the situation European Medicine Agency (EMA) indicated in an article released on March 18, 2020 that there is no scientific proof of ibuprofen worsening the symptoms of COVID-19 and that EMA is closely monitoring the situation and every new information about the subject³. EMA says that healthcare workers and patients can continue using NSAIDs as per the approved product information and patients using ibuprofen (or other NSAIDs) for treatment, especially patients with chronic disease, have no reason to interrupt their treatment³. EMA currently advices these products to be used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible period³.

World Health Organization (WHO) announced that according to recent data WHO does not recommend against the use of of ibuprofen and that no negative effect other than known side effects of ibuprofen was reported by physicians treating COVID-19 patients ⁴.

Turkish Pharmacists’ Association also indicates that ibuprofen like any other drugs should be used with a prescription and with the consultancy of a pharmacist, all patients with questions about drugs must consult to their physician and pharmacist and best way to prevent COVID-19 is to ignore all the information pollution⁵.

Referanslar

1. RxMediaPharma, İbuprofen, access date: 27.03.2020
2. Fang L, Karakiulakis G, Roth M. Are patients with hypertension and diabetes mellitus at increased risk for COVID-19 infection? Lancet Respir Med 2020, 11 March 2020
3. EMA gives advice on the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories for COVID-19 https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/ema-gives-advice-use-non-steroidal-ant... access date: 27.03.2020
4. WHO, Twitter, https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1240409220916432899?s=20 , access date: 27.03.2020
5. Türk Eczacıları Birliği, Eczacınız Diyor Ki: “İbuprofen COVID-19’u Kötüleştirmez”, https://www.teb.org.tr/news/8714/ECZACINIZ-D%C4%B0YOR-K%C4%B0-%EF%BF%BD%... , access date: 27.03.2020

(You can reach all of the articles published by Yeditepe University Pharmaceutical and Poison Advisory Unit by clicking the PEPIRC / YIZDA section under the "Research" title found on the navigation bar.)