Table 2.

Recommendations for anti-inflammatory agents for early COVID-19 symptoms in adults

		When to use	Dosage	Time of exposure
NSAIDs
Relatively selective COX-2 inhibitors
	Nimesulide	At the onset of symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, headache)	100 mg orally twice a day	For 3–4 days, if symptoms persist, continue for a maximum of 12 days
	Celecoxib	At the onset of symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, headache)	Initial oral dose of 400 mg followed by a second dose of 200 mg on the first day; in the following days, 200 mg/day up to a maximum of 400 mg/day	For 3–4 days, if symptoms persist, continue for a maximum of 12 days
Other NSAIDs
	Ibuprofen	At the onset of symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, headache)	400 mg orally twice a day	For 3–4 days
	Aspirin	At the onset of symptoms (fever) or with laboratory signs of hepatotoxicity associated with nimesulide or contraindications to celecoxib	500 mg orally twice a day	For 3–4 days, if symptoms persist, continue for a maximum of 8 days
Corticosteroids*
Dexamethasone		Should fever persist after 8–10 days of NSAID treatment, or when oxygen saturation <94–92% occurs	8 mg orally for 3 days, then tapered to 4 mg for a further 3 days, and then to 2 mg for 3 days	Duration of treatment depends on the clinical evolution of the disease

The recommended drugs can be used unless contraindicated according to summary of product characteristics.

^*At the start of corticosteroid treatment, NSAIDs should be discontinued. NSAID=non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.