of influenza as well as COVID-19, are well-known to have po- tential side effects on the stomach and kidneys in the very groups considered at higher risk of COVID-19 -- older people and those with other conditions or compromised immune systems. In those people, doctors commonly recommend acetaminophen as an alternative to treat fever for any cause. "I think what [the French] are recommending is an overexten-


sion of the known concerns," Poland said. "I know of no published data on the use of NSAIDs with COVID-19 that represents any sort of unique risk," he stressed. Poland cautioned against a rush to draw conclusions in times


when stress and panic are exceptionally high. He mentioned a report from a colleague in which four severe COVID-19 cases were described as being among people who were taking NSAIDs, seeming to draw an association between the two. "There was an inappropriate inference of cause and effect,"


he said. "This is a mistake we commonly see; people will assume causality and more often than not, it's not the case." Meanwhile, the Spanish Ministry of Health stressed that while


there is no evidence that NSAIDs make COVID-19 infection worse, ibuprofen package inserts mention that taking the drug might mask the symptoms of infections, which could delay di- agnosis until more severe stages. But that refers to infections in general, not specifically to COVID-19. The Spanish ministry is looking further into the issue of


NSAIDs and COVID-19 and will publish its findings by May 2020.


French Experts Stand Their Ground In exclusive interviews with Medscape France, a rheuma-


tologist and an infectious disease expert gave their takes on the stance of their health ministry. Francis Berenbaum, MD, PhD, a rheumatologist at Saint-


Antoine Hospital in Paris, told Medscape France that in people with rheumatological diseases who are on long-term treatment with NSAIDs, therapy should not be stopped unless a patient starts to have COVID-19 symptoms such as fever. For other people, Berenbaum says that if they develop a


fever and COVID-19 symptoms, they shouldn’t take NSAIDs because it can worsen the disease (although he acknowledges this is also known in several other viral diseases including flu), and that it's better to take paracetamol unless there is a liver condition that prevents doing so.


Christian Perronne, MD, PhD, an infectious disease special-


ist in Garches, France, told Medscape France he believes the advice to avoid NSAIDs in COVID-19 infection is common sense. Perronne told Medscape Medical News he has not person-


ally witnessed cases of COVID-19 worsening with NSAIDs, noting that there isn’t yet enough perspective in France, but said this has been shown by Chinese results. NSAIDs are not suitable for respiratory infections, Perrone


stressed. He said he never gives NSAIDs in principle in respira- tory infections, only in exceptional cases. Perrone notes that an investigation requested by the French


National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) last year confirmed that NSAIDs can have an aggravating role in the event of severe infection. He notes that ANSM stated in an April 2019 press release that there was a risk of serious infectious complications, with NSAID use in such instances.


France has tighter restrictions on the sale of NSAIDs than


other countries. Beginning this year, the products, including paracetamol and ibuprofen, aren’t available over-the-counter there.


UK: acetaminophen Better for Some, but Not Necessarily Due to COVID-19 UK experts agree that acetaminophen is a preferable choice


over NSAIDs in those at risk for COVID-19 because of the known safety reasons. "There is a good reason to avoid ibuprofen as it may exac-


erbate acute kidney injury brought on by any severe illness, in- cluding severe COVID-19 disease," Rupert Beale, MB, PhD, group leader in cell biology of infection at the Francis Crick Institute, London, UK, told the UK Science Media Center. But he added,


SUPPORTING YOUR LIFE, THE HERBAL WAY


10% Discount Code for Natural Triad Readers: NT10


Elderberry syrup for seasonal immune support


elianasgarden.com 14 NaturalTriad.com


Quality, honesty, NC grown, 3rd party tested full spectrum CBD &


THC-free hemp products elianascanna.com 336.573.7276


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32