Do NOT take ibuprofen (e.g. Advil) if you think you might have the virus

[Alhena]

A lot of even young people are getting badly sick from doing so:

https://www.archyde.com/against-covid-19-the-minister-of-health-recommends-not-to-take-ibuprofen/

This article below notes that a 45 year old lawyer is in critical condition with the virus- it says he took Advil (ibuprofen)

https://www.nola.com/news/coronavirus/article_35531ff4-66d9-11ea-95b0-7797f71d169a.html

[dewsgirl]

1. I heard something else about this yesterday.

I only ever take ibuprofen.

[lapfog_1]

8. me too... hmmm... need to research this.

I've heard that any anti-inflammatory meds are bad in conjunction with the virus.

But I wouldn't swear to that...

[Baltimike]

2. take acetominophine. (sp) nt

[SiliconValley_Dem]

3. Not really accurate. Ibuprofen can mask fever symprom

So not a good idea to take it right before heading in to be diagnosed. It sounds like these people just waited too long to seek medical help which is the real takeaway

[LisaL]

5. The guy in the link didn't wait too long, he was misdiagnosed with the flu.

[womanofthehills]

11. It is accurate ..Anti-inflammatories may aggravate Covid-19, France advises

Health officials point out that anti-inflammatory drugs are known to be a risk for those with infectious illnesses because they tend to diminish the response of the body’s immune system.

French patients have been forced to consult pharmacies since mid-January if they want to buy popular painkillers, including ibuprofen, paracetamol and aspirin, to be reminded of the risks.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/14/anti-inflammatory-drugs-may-aggravate-coronavirus-infection

[womanofthehills]

22. ACE2 - can be increased by ibuprofen providing more untake sites for the virus -

along with some blood pressure meds

Human pathogenic coronaviruses (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus [SARS-CoV] and SARS-CoV-2) bind to their target cells through angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is expressed by epithelial cells of the lung, intestine, kidney, and blood vessels.4
The expression of ACE2 is substantially increased in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, who are treated with ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II type-I receptor blockers (ARBs).4
Hypertension is also treated with ACE inhibitors and ARBs, which results in an upregulation of ACE2.5
ACE2 can also be increased by thiazolidinediones and ibuprofen. These data suggest that ACE2 expression is increased in diabetes and treatment with ACE inhibitors and ARBs increases ACE2 expression. Consequently, the increased expression of ACE2 would facilitate infection with COVID-19. We therefore hypothesise that diabetes and hypertension treatment with ACE2-stimulating drugs increases the risk of developing severe and fatal COVID-19.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30079-5/fulltext

[mr_lebowski]

27. working link

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600%2820%2930079-5/fulltext

[DeminPennswoods]

35. That is really interesting info, thanks

for sharing.

[Ferrets are Cool]

4. If you think you have the virus, how about calling your Doctor and getting THEIR advice

on what to do? Self medicating from advice online seems imprudent to me.

[LisaL]

6. Doctors don't know either.

Covid is a new disease.

[Squinch]

26. In reading your posts, I have learned that we shouldn't get tested, we shouldn't screen

at airports, and now we shouldn't call our doctors.

And only hand sanitizer will save us.

Innnnteresting....

[LisaL]

30. I really don't know which posts you have been reading.

I have never once said we shouldn't get tested. In fact I am very concerned that we are testing so few people. Or that we shouldn't call doctors.
And if you haven't seen what screening created at airports, well... And they are not actually screening for covid, all these people are just there waiting to have their temperature taken. Meanwhile if any of them have covid, it will spread like wild fire, because they are all in close proximity to each other.

[cwydro]

33. Lol! Yes, the hand sanitizer is crucial!

That above all!

[SiliconValley_Dem]

7. AGREE! That's what I did. Call in first and let them do patient assessment

They will let you know if you should prioritize coming in to office or urgent care or ER

[SamKnause]

10. What if you don't have a doctor.

I don't.

My brother doesn't.

[Niagara]

18. I don't have a primary doctor either

The best thing to do is to call the E.R.

[Brother Buzz]

21. No, no, no

First call up your hospital and find if they employ an advice nurse. If they do, the advice nurse can answer most of your questions, and will refer you to the appropriate specialist for things outside of their bailiwick.

[Niagara]

23. That's why I would call the E.R.

If one thinks they have Covid-19, you don't want to infect others. I would call the E.R. and ask for an RN and explain my symptoms to see what their advice is. That's why the E.R. is there.

[still_one]

13. ding ding ding, we have a winner!!!

[Brother Buzz]

19. Your doctor's nurse practitioner is the one to snag

The nurse practitioner is totally up to speed, often ahead of the doctor's curve, and can afford to spend the time walking you through all the options, ramifications, and possibilities.

Been there, done that.

[Ferrets are Cool]

24. This is GREAT advice. Thanks for chiming in.

We do as much as possible through wifeys cancer doctor's practitioner. She started arranging for my wife to be able to come to the hospital ONLY when her room was ready instead of what happened the first time. We got there at 7:15 in the morning and waited 7 hrs for her room to get ready. We said at that time that we would never do that again.

[Brother Buzz]

28. Nurse practitioners are totally detail oriented

So are the nurses.

Years ago, my nurse practitioner told me, "Listen to the doctors, but trust the nurses"; it proved to be sage advice.

[smirkymonkey]

9. Oh damn.

It's all I have. I always take it for muscle aches and tension headaches. Guess I'll have to place an order for some other kind of pain reliever if someone hasn't already cornered the market.

[smirkymonkey]

20. Thanks wishstar!

I primarily rely on external pain relief (ice packs, Salon Pas patches and BioFreeze) since they provide instant relief, but good to know!

[Ferrets are Cool]

25. I saw that same article.

[jberryhill]

12. I don't understand what the second link has to do with anything

[wishstar]

14. Alcohol drinkers shouldn't take Tylenol (acetaminophen)either -can be lethal to liver

both the anti-inflammatory drugs such as Advil, Aleve, aspirin are good to reduce fever and pain but Tylenol has been recommended by some medical folks for reducing fever and pain. However for many people Tylenol is a bad recommendation due to the toxic side effects on liver for heavy drinkers.

[McCamy Taylor]

15. If you have liver disease from alcohol. Or hepatitis.

This in not true for social drinkers.

[Ms. Toad]

34. Tylenol is very hard on the liver, period.

The overdose amount is relatively small, and can destroy a healthy liver very quickly.

Single doses of more than 150 mg/kg or 7.5 g in adults have been considered potentially toxic, although the minimal dose associated with liver injury can range anywhere from 4 to 10 g

https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/acetaminophen-toxicity-what-pharmacists-need-to-know

1 gram is a therapeutic dose - so taking 8 extra strength tablets (or taking 2-4 + another medication containing tylenol - like some cold and flu medications) can cause fatal liver damage.

[Renew Deal]

16. All of the liquid Tylenol was sold out and has been for a couple weeks.

[diane in sf]

29. Fevers/inflammation kill viruses, bacteria, and bad cells. I personally avoid using aspirin and

ibuprofen when ill or when I’ve broken bones because they’re anti-inflammatory.

In bone healing, the inflammation site is where the bone is mending. When I broke my ankle I was out of the cast in 3.5 weeks, and when I broke my wrist, 2.5 weeks. The doctor thought I’d be in the ankle cast for 12 weeks because I was over 60.

I do use ibuprofen for muscular pain and to kill migraines. If running a fever when sick, I might use a cold compress on my forehead instead of grabbing a pill.

[intrepidity]

31. It seems that ibuprofen increases ACE2, the target of the virus

ACE2 (angiotensin converting enzyme 2) is a protein that sits on the membrane of many of our cells.

The Covid19 virus attaches to a specific region of that protein, and uses it to gain entry to cells.

Ibuprofen increases the amount of ACE2 available.

It makes sense to avoid it, IMHO.

[cwydro]

32. The other day there was an entire thread about how we SHOULD take ibuprofen.

How about none of us pay any attention to medical advice given out on a discussion board.

It used to be a rule here, no idea why it still isn’t.