Coronavirus: UK testing Ibuprofen as a treatment

A trial is being performed by the scientists in London to test if  common painkiller and anti-inflammatory medicine Ibuprofen can help to treat Covid-19 positive patients.

A team of researchers from London’s Guy’s Hospital, St Thomas’ Hospital and King’s College consider that the anti-inflammatory properties of the medicine could treat breathing problems.

With around 180 nations across the globe dealing with the coronavirus pandemic amid escalating deaths, scientists and researchers are hoping that the low-cost treatment will decrease the burden on hospitals and medical facilities by keeping patients off ventilators.

The research uses a type of Ibuprofen called Flarin that’s available in the United Kingdom and has a special composition than the standard version to protect the stomach.

The trial, called Liberate, will treat half the patients with the drug on top of their usual care.

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Note that previously studies on animals have shown that ibuprofen might treat acute respiratory distress syndrome, which is one of the major complications caused by severe coronavirus infections.

Prof. Mitul Mehta from the King’s College London team said:

“We need to do a trial to show that the evidence actually matches what we expect to happen,” Prof. Mitul Mehta from the King’s College London team stated.

At the beginning of the pandemic, there were concerns that ibuprofen would worsen the infection, with French Health Minister Oliver Veran advising patients to take paracetamol instead.