Paracetamol is the best choice of pain killer for those showing symptoms of coronavirus, the Government has said.
On Saturday, a French health minister tweeted that anti-inflamatory drugs, such as popular painkiller ibuprofen, could worsen infections like Covid-19.
Since then, advice to avoid the drug has spread widely on social media, despite criticism from some experts that the claims were not supported by scientific studies.
On Wednesday, the UK's Department of Health and Social Care issued official guidance, advising those who did not have to use ibuprofen to chose paracetamol instead, as a precaution, following advice from the World Health Organization.
But those who are currently taking ibuprofen or similar drugs for other medical reasons were warned not to give up the pills.
In a statement posted on Twitter, a spokesperson said: "There is currently no strong evidence that ibuprofen can make coronavirus (Covid-19) worse. But until we have more information, take paracetamol to treat the symptoms of coronavirus, unless your doctor has told you paracetamol is not suitable for you.
"If you are already taking ibuprofen or another non-steroidal anti-inflamatory (NSAID) on the advice of a doctor, do not stop taking it without checking first."
If you are taking paracetamol, it's important to stick to the recommended dose, as overdoses of the drug can cause damage to the liver.
There is currently no specific treatment for the new disease, spread by the sars-cov-2 virus, and at present the only treatments possible are relief of the symptoms, including pain relief.
However, scientists are researching cures and vaccines, while more than 82,760 people have successfully recovered from the disease worldwide.
