People are told that paracetamol or ibuprofen can only be used to treat the symptoms of COVID-19, but we think that taking paracetamol and vitamin C or ibuprofen and vitamin C every day is a very simple way to prevent COVID-19. This idea is based on our assumption that any drugs with genotoxic side effects could be used to reduce the target cell’s susceptibility to virus and modulate immune response to viral infection through temporarily altering genome structures in the target cells and immune cells [1].
Paracetamol, ibuprofen and vitamin C are old less-toxic drugs with possible genotoxic side effects [2][3][4], which could be daily used by everyone for preventing COVID-19 without health authority permission. To prove effectiveness of these drug combinations, urgent clinical trials should be done. Those who cannot take paracetamol and ibuprofen could take vitamin C and turmeric or vitamin C and berberine because both turmeric and berberine possess possible genotoxic side effects [5][6] and are so safe that they could be served as prophylactic drugs for long-term use.
In addition to the drugs or supplements as described above, there are numerous antimalarial drugs with genotoxic side effects, such as chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, mefloquine, primaquine, amodiaquine, lumefantrine, artemether, artesulate, and pyronaridine etc. All these drugs could be used to prevent COVID-19, but their safety for long-term use should be taken into account. We predict that compared to non- malaria-endemic regions, the number of COVID-19 cases is much smaller in malaria-endemic regions in which many people take antimalarial drugs to prevent malaria. We also predict that during the pandemic period, cancer patients who are taking less-toxic genotoxic anticancer drugs are much less likely to suffer from COVID-19 than cancer patients who didn’t receive chemotherapy. In a word, we believe that only drugs or supplements that are genotoxic to virus target cells, such as epithelial cells of the respiratory tract, could be used to effectively prevent and treat COVID-19.
In conclusion, based on our theory, repurposing old drugs for preventing COVID-19 could be done by anyone who can perform Google search. The guidelines for doing this are very simple. First, the old drugs must be safe and could be used for long time; second, the old drugs should have possible genotoxic side effects; third, to increase chances of success, drug combinations must be used, i.e., don’t use a single drug for preventing COVID-19. The best drugs are those that are safe for long-term use and show specific genotoxicity in epithelial cells of respiratory tract. Unfortunately, it is difficult to find these cell-type specific genotoxic drugs. Therefore, at present, to prevent COVID-19, we have to use non-specific genotoxic drugs that may be genotoxic to various cell types including epithelial cells of respiratory tract. Since there is uncertainty in vaccine development, repurposing old drugs for preventing COVID-19 will play a very important role in the containment of COVID-19 worldwide
Poster Taking Paracetamol and Vitamin C or Ibuprofen and Vitamin C ...
I agree with @Hermann. But the preventive role of NSAIDs in Covid 19 is not explored.
Must have a well randomised case control study to prove or otherwise.
I am not a medical person; however, based on my knowledge I would say that we can use Paracetamol sometimes but not ibrufen.
The vitamins are okay. But, this is not my sector so, I cannot recommend those medicines.
Thanks
Shivish
Taking of anti-inflammatory drugs could be a factor in aggravating the infection with COVID-19.
In case of fever, take paracetamol. If you are already taking anti-inflammatory drugs, ask your doctor’s advice .
It is recommended that a patient is trying paracetamol first, as it has fewer side effects than ibuprofen and is the safer choice for most people.
As an experienced physician and researcher, and having managed all types of COVID-19 patients from asymptomatic to critical patients, I can say that there is no need of a study to explore the role of Paracetamol (Pandol) or Ibuprofen (Brufen) in the prevention of COVID-19 patients.
Paracetamol and Ibuprofen are used as symptomatic treatment of fever and pain, and they can not cure any disease, and COVID-19 can cause both these symptoms.
Paracetamol, having much less side-effects is the preferred medication in most patients with COVID-19 for fever and pain.
Ibuprofen, has many serious side-effects including renal injury, peptic ulcer and upper gastrointestinal bleeding, liver injury atrial fibrillation, increasing the blood pressure, worsening heart failure, and therefore avoided. It is because most of the patients with severe COVID-19 admitted to the hospital already have many of these complications due to COVID-19 itself and use of Ibuprofen will only add insult to injury.. It is only used if there is severe pain due to fractures, or inflammatory joint diseases.
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