Interesting Studies on Hydroxychloroquine
https://www.goodrx.com/blog/coronavirus-medic...treatment/
Study 1 – March 16, 2020
Researchers from China reported in a letter that over 100 people with COVID-19 have been treated with chloroquine. These patients had less severe disease and a shorter illness duration compared to those who did not receive chloroquine. However, results from these studies are not yet available, nor do we have a lot of information about the type of people who received this drug, or what dose they took and for how long.
Study 2 – March 20, 2020
A small study in France reported that people who got 600 mg of hydroxychloroquine had a lower amount of the virus (viral load) in the body. The problem with this study is that comparisons were made between patients at different hospitals. This makes it difficult to know if improvements were because of hydroxychloroquine or other things. And, of the 26 people who initially got hydroxychloroquine, 6 people (23%) had to stop treatment because of nausea, worsening disease, leaving the hospital, or death.
Six people in this study also received azithromycin (a common antibiotic) with hydroxychloroquine. These individuals had even lower viral loads at the end of the study compared to those who only got hydroxychloroquine. Research with more people is needed to help us understand whether improvements were because of the combination of medications or other factors. More information on safety is also important because taking azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine together can increase the risk of serious side effects, particularly irregular heart rhythm.
Study 3 – March 24, 2020
In a small Shanghai study of 30 people with COVID-19, half got 400 mg of hydroxychloroquine for 5 days while the other half did not. At the end of the study, 13 people (87%) who received hydroxychloroquine tested negative for COVID-19 compared to 14 people (93%) who also tested negative but did not receive the medication. Unlike the two studies above, this study suggests that hydroxychloroquine did not make a difference in recovery. Larger studies are needed to confirm the results.
Can hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine prevent or cure COVID-19?
At the time of this writing, hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are not FDA-approved for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19. Additional data is needed to better understand the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for COVID-19. This is particularly important because current reports are based on a small number of patients, some who received dosages that were typically higher than what has been approved for other conditions.
Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have not yet been shown to prevent COVID-19 either in a community or hospital setting. In the studies cited above, patients received these medications in the hospital only after they were confirmed to have COVID-19. Additionally, the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are only for hospitalized patients who are unable to participate in a clinical trial.
Many clinical studies are currently underway to find a treatment for COVID-19, and the FDA is working with various government agencies, academic centers, and biopharmaceutical companies to expedite the process.
How can I get hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine?
Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine both require a prescription from your doctor. Due to the recent increase in demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, both medications are currently in short supply. This has made it difficult for patients with rheumatoid arthritis or lupus to get hydroxychloroquine, putting them at increased risk of complications.
Some states, such as North Carolina, Texas, and Idaho, recently restricted pharmacists from dispensing certain medications unless it is specifically being prescribed for an FDA-approved use. This is to help prevent medication stockpiling and potential drug shortages.
https://www.goodrx.com/blog/coronavirus-medic...treatment/
Study 1 – March 16, 2020
Researchers from China reported in a letter that over 100 people with COVID-19 have been treated with chloroquine. These patients had less severe disease and a shorter illness duration compared to those who did not receive chloroquine. However, results from these studies are not yet available, nor do we have a lot of information about the type of people who received this drug, or what dose they took and for how long.
Study 2 – March 20, 2020
A small study in France reported that people who got 600 mg of hydroxychloroquine had a lower amount of the virus (viral load) in the body. The problem with this study is that comparisons were made between patients at different hospitals. This makes it difficult to know if improvements were because of hydroxychloroquine or other things. And, of the 26 people who initially got hydroxychloroquine, 6 people (23%) had to stop treatment because of nausea, worsening disease, leaving the hospital, or death.
Six people in this study also received azithromycin (a common antibiotic) with hydroxychloroquine. These individuals had even lower viral loads at the end of the study compared to those who only got hydroxychloroquine. Research with more people is needed to help us understand whether improvements were because of the combination of medications or other factors. More information on safety is also important because taking azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine together can increase the risk of serious side effects, particularly irregular heart rhythm.
Study 3 – March 24, 2020
In a small Shanghai study of 30 people with COVID-19, half got 400 mg of hydroxychloroquine for 5 days while the other half did not. At the end of the study, 13 people (87%) who received hydroxychloroquine tested negative for COVID-19 compared to 14 people (93%) who also tested negative but did not receive the medication. Unlike the two studies above, this study suggests that hydroxychloroquine did not make a difference in recovery. Larger studies are needed to confirm the results.
Can hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine prevent or cure COVID-19?
At the time of this writing, hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are not FDA-approved for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19. Additional data is needed to better understand the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for COVID-19. This is particularly important because current reports are based on a small number of patients, some who received dosages that were typically higher than what has been approved for other conditions.
Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have not yet been shown to prevent COVID-19 either in a community or hospital setting. In the studies cited above, patients received these medications in the hospital only after they were confirmed to have COVID-19. Additionally, the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are only for hospitalized patients who are unable to participate in a clinical trial.
Many clinical studies are currently underway to find a treatment for COVID-19, and the FDA is working with various government agencies, academic centers, and biopharmaceutical companies to expedite the process.
How can I get hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine?
Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine both require a prescription from your doctor. Due to the recent increase in demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, both medications are currently in short supply. This has made it difficult for patients with rheumatoid arthritis or lupus to get hydroxychloroquine, putting them at increased risk of complications.
Some states, such as North Carolina, Texas, and Idaho, recently restricted pharmacists from dispensing certain medications unless it is specifically being prescribed for an FDA-approved use. This is to help prevent medication stockpiling and potential drug shortages.
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