RIYADH – The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) on Sunday claimed that there was no scientific evidence showing that Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) like ibuprofen could be harmful for people infected with the new coronavirus. "There is currently no proven and scientifically based evidence establishing a link between the use of NSAIDs and NSAID-type antipyretics and the occurrence of any complications in patients with the new coronavirus," it said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency. The clarifications came in the wake of social media reports on the unsafe use of NSAIDs and analgesics such as ibuprofen for symptomatic treatment of coronavirus patients. "It is necessary to always adhere to the instructions in the leaflet accompanying the package of the therapeutic product when starting to take it," SFDA said warning against exceeding the dose prescribed in the leaflet. The authority advised patients with prescription of NSAIDs to continue taking them as prescribed. It also urged customers to verify the authenticity of all the pharmaceutical products marketed through its Tamani App by searching for the name of the product in English language. The World Health Organization and other leading agencies recently stated that there is no evidence to support the suggestion that ibuprofen might worsen the corona symptoms. WHO said earlier this week that it did a quick review and found no published research or data on the issue. It also checked with doctors treating coronavirus patients. The UN health agency said it was "not aware of reports of any negative effects of ibuprofen, beyond the usual known side effects." It added that it was not recommending against using ibuprofen for the treatment of fever in people with COVID-19. On Thursday, the US Food and Drug Administration also weighed in, stating that it was not aware of any evidence that taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen could be harmful for people infected with the new coronavirus. Ibuprofen is sold under the brand names of Advin, Motrin, Nurofen and others. The agencies were responding to a tweet last weekend from French Health Minister Olivier Vera, who said people who think they have COVID-19 should not take ibuprofen. He suggested those with a fever take paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen and sold under names such as Panadol, Calpol, and Tylenol. Veran said anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and cortisone could potentially worsen a coronavirus infection and that patients should consult their doctor if they were already taking the drug.
