JNJ Johnson and Johnson

By Peter Loftus and Katie Camero

Demand for Tylenol over-the-counter medicine is so strong that some stores are running out of supplies, according to the painkiller's maker Johnson & Johnson, which is now boosting production.

Demand started to surge about three weeks ago, as people have sought out Tylenol to reduce fever and relieve pain associated with the new coronavirus or have stocked up in case they get sick, Kathleen Widmer, head of J&J's North American consumer health business, said in an interview.

The uptick might be driven by reports, including a warning from France's health ministry, that the use of alternative painkillers might worsen new coronavirus infections. The alternative painkillers, belonging to a class known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, often contain ingredients like ibuprofen.

Ibuprofen is known to reduce any inflammation found in the body, which may be needed to fight an infection, according to Bindu Akkanti, an associate professor in pulmonology with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston. Yet there hasn't been scientific evidence showing that ibuprofen worsened French patients' symptoms, Dr. Akkanti said.

The World Health Organization doesn't recommend against the use of ibuprofen for those showing symptoms of Covid-19 -- the disease caused by the novel coronavirus -- despite rumors circulating on social media and other news outlets saying otherwise.

To satisfy demand, J&J has responded by making "unprecedented levels of supply" at plants in Puerto Rico and Pennsylvania, Ms. Widmer said. The company has also prioritized Tylenol formulations that can be made more quickly, such as caplets, over those that take longer, such as rapid-release gels, Ms. Widmer said.

In light of limited data, some scientists urge against overusing Tylenol because the drug in excess can cause liver damage.

Write to Peter Loftus at peter.loftus@wsj.com and Katie Camero at katie.camero@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 19, 2020 16:17 ET (20:17 GMT)

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