New Delhi (NVI): Scientists in the UK are running a trial to see if ibuprofen, the anti-inflammatory drug also used as a painkiller, can help Covid-19 positive patients in their treatment, reports BBC.
A team of researchers at London’s Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospital and King’s College believe the drug could treat breathing difficulties in such patients. They also hope the low-cost treatment can keep them off ventilators.
In the trial, named Liberate, half of the patients will receive ibuprofen in addition to usual care, reports BBC.
Based on the study on animals, the results suggest that the drug might treat acute respiratory distress syndrome, which is one of the complications of severe coronavirus.
In the initial stages of the pandemic outbreak, there were concerns that ibuprofen might be bad for people to take, should they have the virus with mild symptoms.
France’s health minister Oliver Veran told BBC said that taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, could aggravate the infection and advised patients to take paracetamol instead.
However, a review done by the Commission on Human Medicines concludes that just like paracetamol, ibuprofen is safe to be consumed for coronavirus symptoms. Both the drugs can bring the temperature down and help with flu-like symptoms, they said.
