IBUPROFEN AND CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)- CMO Letter – 15/4/20

This letter is an update to our previous letter HSS(MD)15/2020 https://www.health- ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/HSS%28MD%29-15-2020.pdf issued on 18 March 2020.

The Commission of Human Medicines (CHM) has been asked to review the safety of ibuprofen in patients with COVID-19. The Commission on Human Medicines’ Expert Working Group on coronavirus (COVID-19) has concluded that there is currently insufficient evidence to establish a link between use of ibuprofen, or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and contracting or worsening of COVID19.

Patients can take paracetamol or ibuprofen when self-medicating for symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever and headache, and should follow advice available at the PHA website https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/news/covid-19-coronavirus if they have any questions or if symptoms get worse.