No Medical Evidence That Taking Ibuprofen Makes Coronavirus Worse

"And so it becomes pretty easy to see that people who take NSAIDs are more likely to be the people who are sickest with COVID-19. And it's not because the medicines are causing that,” Aronoff says. Rather, NSAID use may indicate the patient was “more severely ill” from the beginning.

His conclusion: There's just not enough evidence to show that NSAIDs make a coronavirus infection worse. The Food and Drug Administration on March 19 issued a statement echoing his view. The agency said it “is investigating this issue further and will communicate publicly when more information is available.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) also has weighed in, tweeting, “Based on currently available information, WHO does not recommend against the use of ibuprofen.”

Check with an expert before treating symptoms

"As things stands now,” Aronoff says, health experts shouldn't advise people against taking a medicine that “they take on a regular basis under the supervision of a health care provider like a physician.”

That said, he recommends anyone with a fever, cough and shortness of breath to alert their health care provider. “If you normally take an NSAID or acetaminophen for fever, then it should be perfectly fine to do the same in this case,” he says. But it's always wise to double-check and to raise any questions or concerns with a doctor or pharmacist.

People with kidney disease or problems with stomach ulcers may be steered toward acetaminophen. “And on the flip side, if you have problems with hepatitis or liver trouble, then acetaminophen may not be the best choice. And that's why speaking with a pharmacist or a physician or nurse can be really very helpful,” Aronoff says.