American Vice President JD Vance has sparked controversy by declaring ibuprofen, the world's most popular pain medication, to be 'useless' during a recent health summit. This assertion directly contradicts decades of scientific research demonstrating the drug's effectiveness and safety.
Controversial Claims at Health Summit
Vance made his surprising comments while speaking at the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) summit alongside Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. The event featured several controversial positions, including Kennedy's long-standing skepticism toward vaccines and his unfounded theory that acetaminophen causes autism.
The Vice President specifically addressed his personal approach to pain management, stating: 'If I have like, you know, a back sprain, or I slept weird and I woke up with back pain, I don't want to take Ibuprofen.' He described this reluctance as embodying the MAHA philosophy, clarifying 'It's not anti-medication, it's anti-useless-medication.'
Scientific Evidence Contradicts Vance's Position
Vance's comments stand in stark contrast to the substantial body of clinical evidence supporting ibuprofen's efficacy. The medication, sold under brand names including Advil, has been extensively studied and proven effective for treating mild to moderate pain and reducing fever.
A comprehensive 2010 review of 85 separate studies concluded that ibuprofen generally outperforms acetaminophen for both pain and fever reduction in children and adults. Multiple studies have found it provides comparable or superior pain relief to some opioids without carrying the same addiction risks.
Ibuprofen works through a sophisticated mechanism: it blocks enzymes known as COX-1 and COX-2, which produce prostaglandins - the chemicals that trigger pain signals and inflammation in the body. This dual-action approach not only reduces pain perception but also addresses underlying inflammation.
Broader Pattern of Controversial Health Statements
Vance's comments follow similar controversial statements from other Trump administration figures. President Donald Trump recently asserted alongside RFK Jr that 'Taking Tylenol is not good' and suggested pregnant women should avoid it due to unproven autism risks.
While RFK Jr later moderated this position, acknowledging insufficient evidence to definitively link Tylenol to autism, he maintained his skeptical stance, stating: 'I'm not going to change until the science changes.'
The MAHA initiative, a cornerstone of Kennedy's Health and Human Services department, focuses on autism research, eliminating pharmaceutical industry influence, and addressing America's chronic disease epidemic. However, the movement has drawn criticism for its positions on raw milk safety, vaccines, and other evidence-based medical treatments.
Vance appeared to acknowledge the controversial nature of his ibuprofen comments, prefacing them by describing himself as 'one of these crazy people.' He stopped short of claiming the medication was unsafe and didn't propose alternative pain relief methods.
Medical professionals continue to emphasize that ibuprofen remains a well-established, effective treatment for numerous conditions when used appropriately, though they note it should be used with caution by individuals with certain pre-existing conditions including kidney disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or those taking blood thinners.
