A British research team is running trials to test if Ibuprofen could possibly be a treatment for COVID-19. This drug, which is an anti-inflammatory, as well as a pain-killer, could potentially help in treating those infected with the coronavirus.
Since this is a low-cost treatment, it is believed that this could possibly keep patients off the ventilator.
This trial, which is termed the Liberate, will subject half the patients to Ibuprofen in addition to the ongoing treatments. Some people already take this lipid capsule form of the drug for conditions like arthritis. The trial will use a special formulation of ibuprofen rather than the regular tablets that people might usually buy.
Despite the concerns surrounding Ibuprofen as a potential treatment, as well as France’s health minister Olive Veran strongly vouching against it, a review by the Commission on Human Medicines concluded that it was safe to take for corona symptoms. For mild coronavirus symptoms, the NHS advises people try paracetamol first, as it has fewer side-effects than ibuprofen and is the safer choice for most people.