Which painkillers could be harmful with COVID-19 or vaccination?

Painkillers can have both positive and negative effects on COVID-19. Scientists are analyzing how aspirin and its ingredients affect the immune system. Self-medication comes with serious risks, and the inappropriate use of certain medications can – literally – drive you crazy.

Author: Joerg Zittlau

1. Research on the effects of popular painkillers on COVID-19 infection has been underway since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic
2. There is no definite answer. Some painkillers work with the immune system to fight infection, while others are unfavorable and can make the disease more severe
3. The latter group includes morphine. It has a negative impact on our non-specific immune response
4. Specialists also advise against aspirin and indomethacin
5. Check your health. Just answer these questions
6. More information can be found on the Onet homepage

Does Ibuprofen Worsen COVID-19 Symptoms?

“Just not ibuprofen and aspirin, only paracetamol.” There are many theories, not least on the Internet, regarding the use of painkillers for COVID-19 and their effects on the immune system. Consequently, the Australian research team explored the topic in more detail and presented extensive research on the subject.

Christina Abdel-Shaheed of the University of Sydney noticed at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic that people around her were stocking acetaminophen to prepare for possible symptoms of the disease. Meanwhile, ibuprofen was used in Italy, while the health minister in France explicitly advised against it.

He cited several individual cases as the reason. Some young people have significantly worsened symptoms after taking this pain reliever. The hospital where the young patients lay determined that this causal link was merely speculation – but by then it was too late.

1. Find out more: Can Aspirin Protect Against COVID-19?

Since then, ibuprofen has appeared on social media as an “anti-effective” drug in the treatment of COVID-19. “We urgently need more clinical trials on painkillers and their impact on the course of infections like COVID-19,” said Abdel-Shaheed, who has been researching pain for 14 years.

So far, the specialist and her team have analyzed about 170 available studies on the immune system and the use of painkillers. The results of this work were amazing. “We didn’t expect much from them,” Abdel-Shaheed points out. They found that some painkillers work with the immune system to fight infection. Others, on the other hand, have a negative effect and thus increase the risk of a severe course of the disease.

Morphine may increase the risk of developing severe disease

These include, first of all, morphine, which is often used in the treatment of cancer. It suppresses important parts of the innate immune system – white blood cells are partially driven to ‘cellular suicide’, or apoptosis. According to Abdel-Shaheed, this is all the more important as cancer patients are at particular risk during the coronavirus pandemic.

Therefore, it may be beneficial to switch to another opioid – possibly in combination with a non-opioid pain reliever. In addition, the susceptibility of cancer patients to infections associated with their use of painkillers is another argument that they should be vaccinated, and after the first booster dose should also be given a second.

Christina Abdel-Shaheed, researcher of pain

The body should be able to work undisturbed and build an appropriate immune response.

You should also pay attention to the use of painkillers during vaccination. Some studies have shown that acetaminophen and ibuprofen can actually reduce the antibody response to vaccination, Shaheed reports. This is not very revealing because, like after infection, inflammation also occurs after vaccination.

1. Find out more: What medications are better not to take before and after vaccination, and why? Experts explain

Many common painkillers, which also have antipyretic properties, can also reduce the effect of vaccination. What does Shaheed advise? As long as the side effects from vaccination are tolerated, these drugs should be avoided and never taken as a preventive measure. “The body should be able to do its work without interruption and build up an immune response,” explains the pain researcher.

A similar effect of suppressing the effect of vaccination may occur with the use of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), i.e. aspirin. However, reliable research results are still lacking. In the fight against COVID-19 – even when taken only in small doses to thin the blood and prevent heart attacks – the drug has proven its worth.

An American research team compared the course of the disease in 98 patients with acute coronavirus who received a “low dose of aspirin” (less than 100 mg) with 314 untreated patients. It turned out that those who were treated with the blood thinner had almost 30 percent. lower risk of hitting the intensive care unit. The risk of having to use a respirator also decreased to the same extent.

Can Indomethacin Cause Psychosis?

This risk was lower, although the prognosis for this group of patients is much worse. Because those who take aspirin as a blood thinner tend to have chronic diseases. These patients are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure and diabetes, as well as kidney and cardiovascular disease, said lead author Jonathan Chow of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. But with a small dose of ASA, they would have a better chance of getting COVID-19 mildly.

So should everyone be taking this drug during the current pandemic? Even if they don’t need it under other circumstances? The anesthetist Chow advises against doing so. For what reason? Even small doses of aspirin can lead to severe hemorrhage, even in healthy people. “Ultimately, the benefit-risk balance looks negative,” warns Chow. This can also happen with indomethacin, another well-known pain reliever.

1. Find out more: Blood group can influence the critical course of COVID-19. New arrangements

Potential side effects indometacyny include, among others gastrointestinal bleeding, tinnitus, dizziness, depressed moods and elevated liver enzymes – dangers that should not be underestimated. On the other hand, indomethacin has a significant advantage in the fight against the coronavirus, in addition to its anti-inflammatory properties: direct inhibition of viral replication. “This probably also applies to the new variant of the Omikron,” says Rajan Ravichandran of the International Litter Hospital in Chennai, India. The measure has already proven itself with other variants of the coronavirus.

An Indian nephrologist has conducted a small study of the use of indomethacin in patients suffering from coronavirus. It turned out that the drug worked much better than paracetamol. So far, however, the work has not been reviewed, i.e. assessed by independent researchers. Until confirmed clinical data are available, do not self-medicate.

Long-term use of indomethacin may lead to psychosis and the so-called depersonalization accompanying depression. In other words: you can eventually get rid of the virus, but you can also get rid of yourself, so skepticism is right before the benefit-risk balance is finally clarified.

If you want to support your body in the fight against disease, reach for natural preparations, e.g. COVID kit, which includes:

1. Coronachinin capsules,
2. Fix Wirustop tea,
3. liquorice potion.

Read also:

1. Fourth dose for everyone? Clear position of the European Medicines Agency
2. New complications have been discovered after COVID-19. “We don’t want to hear about it, but it’s important”
3. Why do some people not get COVID-19? The answer … swine flu?