U-turn as officials say ibuprofen safe to take

IBUPROFEN is safe for the public to take during the coronavirus pandemic, regulators say as they performed a U-turn on previously issued advice.

Medical guidance had urged against taking the common painkiller when treating symptoms of Covid-19 amid suggestions it could worsen the virus. But the Government has now stated that patients suffering from symptoms such as fevers and headaches can take ibuprofen when “self-medicating”.

The change followed an expert review by the Commission on Human Medicines, the Government’s medicines advisory body.

It concluded that there was insufficient evidence to show that antiinflammatory drugs increase the risk of contracting or worsening Covid-19.

The advice has been approved by NHS England, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

When ibuprofen is being prescribed, risk factors such as any history of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal illness will still be taken into consideration.