COVID-19 & NSAIDs – NICE Advice

NICE has published a COVID-19 rapid evidence summary on Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for people with or at risk of COVID-19 – which includes the following conclusion:

No evidence was found to suggest that people taking NSAIDs for a long-term condition should be advised to stop treatment in the context of COVID‑19. Stopping or switching NSAID treatment could have a negative impact on some people.

Clinicians should follow advice in the BNF and the NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary on issues around prescribing NSAIDs. When considering an NSAID, individual risk factors for adverse effects should be taken into account, including any contraindications, drug interactions, medical history, and any monitoring requirements. The lowest effective dose of an NSAID should be used for the shortest period of time required to control symptoms and the need for long-term treatment should be reviewed periodically.

At this time, policy decisions on whether NSAIDs should be used long-term in people with confirmed or suspected COVID‑19 will need to take into account the risk of adverse effects of NSAIDs, the risk of complications of COVID‑19, and the presence of comorbidities that increase the risk of more severe COVID‑19.