NSAIDs Won’t Cause Death for COVID-19 Patients
The Claim
Voltaren, Flutab, and Ibuprofen cause rapid death if taken by people suffering from COVID-19.
News posted on
Emerging story
An old claim appears to be resurfacing on social media in the MENA region.
The posts claim that, according to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health, there are three drugs that cause a quick death to people infected with Coronavirus.
The drugs mentioned are Voltaren shots for rheumatism, Flutab tablets 500mg for colds and flu, and Ibuprofen tablets for dental pain.
The claims initially started in June 2020 and continue to resurface every while, including in August, November, and more recently.
Users added the warnings and urged everyone to be careful.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigation found the claim to be untrue, the mentioned drugs do not cause death to COVID-19 patients.
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health refuted the claims on social media in a Facebook post.
The Ministry revealed that the information circulating is incorrect.
The Ministry also mentioned that doctors’ instructions on the dosage, frequency, and duration of the treatment must have adhered to each specific case.
Moreover, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mentioned on their website that they are not currently aware of scientific evidence establishing a link between non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and the worsening of COVID‑19.
As for the uses of the drugs, the Voltaren range of products which contain Diclofenac and Ibuprofen such as Advil are both NSAIDs, they work to reduce pain and inflammation in the body.
While Flutab is a medication used to “temporarily treat cough, chest congestion, fever, body aches, and stuffy nose symptoms caused by the common cold, flu, or other breathing illnesses such as sinusitis.”
All these medications are usually over the counter and could be used to treat symptoms of COVID-19, however they should be taken under a doctor’s supervision.
Given the findings, the Misbar team confirms this claim as fake.
