Scientists are conducting a trial to see if ibuprofen can help hospital patients who have coronavirus.
The team at Guy and St Thomas’s Hospital in London and King’s College believe the drug, which is both an anti-inflammatory and a pain reliever, could treat breathing difficulties.
They hope this inexpensive treatment can save patients the need for life support.
In the trial, called Liberate, half of the patients will receive ibuprofen in addition to usual care.
The trial will use a special formulation of ibuprofen rather than the usual tablets people buy at a drugstore.
Some people already take this lipid capsule form of the medicine for conditions like arthritis.
Animal studies suggest it could treat acute respiratory distress syndrome – one of the complications of the serious coronavirus.
King’s College London team member Professor Mitul Mehta said: “We have to give it a try to show that the evidence is actually what we expect. “
At the start of the pandemic, there were concerns that ibuprofen could be bad for people’s health, if the virus showed mild symptoms.
These fears were heightened when French Health Minister Oliver Veran said taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, could worsen the infection and advised patients to take paracetamol instead.
A study by the Commission on Human Medicines quickly concluded that, like paracetamol, it was safe for symptoms of the coronavirus.
Both drugs can lower the temperature and help relieve flu symptoms.
For mild symptoms of the coronavirus, the NHS advises trying paracetamol first, as it has fewer side effects than ibuprofen and is the safer choice for most people.
You should not take ibuprofen if you have a stomach ulcer, for example.
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