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Coronavirus and hydroxychloroquine: What do we know? Coronavirus and hydroxychloroquine: What do we know?
(4 days later)
There's been widespread interest in hydroxychloroquine as both a preventative measure and for treating patients with coronavirus.There's been widespread interest in hydroxychloroquine as both a preventative measure and for treating patients with coronavirus.
President Trump has promoted it, and even took it himself for a while to ward off infection.President Trump has promoted it, and even took it himself for a while to ward off infection.
Early studies gave some hope, but a subsequent larger scale trial has shown it to be ineffective.Early studies gave some hope, but a subsequent larger scale trial has shown it to be ineffective.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which had authorised the drug for emergency use in March, has now withdrawn it saying clinical trials had shown it was no longer reasonable to believe it would produce an antiviral effect.
What is hydroxychloroquine for?What is hydroxychloroquine for?
Hydroxychloroquine has long been used to treat malaria as well as other conditions such as lupus and arthritis.Hydroxychloroquine has long been used to treat malaria as well as other conditions such as lupus and arthritis.
It's used to reduce fever and inflammation, and the hope has been that it can also inhibit the virus that causes Covid-19.It's used to reduce fever and inflammation, and the hope has been that it can also inhibit the virus that causes Covid-19.
Some early studies showed that it may be able to shorten the duration of symptoms experienced by coronavirus patients, while others indicated it had no positive effect at all.Some early studies showed that it may be able to shorten the duration of symptoms experienced by coronavirus patients, while others indicated it had no positive effect at all.
One of the world's largest studies - the Recovery trial run by Oxford University - has involved 11,000 patients with coronavirus in hospitals across the UK and included testing hydroxychloroquine's effectiveness against the disease, along with other potential treatments.One of the world's largest studies - the Recovery trial run by Oxford University - has involved 11,000 patients with coronavirus in hospitals across the UK and included testing hydroxychloroquine's effectiveness against the disease, along with other potential treatments.
It concluded that "there is no beneficial effect of hydroxychloroquine in patients hospitalised with Covid-19" and the drug has now been pulled from the trial.It concluded that "there is no beneficial effect of hydroxychloroquine in patients hospitalised with Covid-19" and the drug has now been pulled from the trial.
There are more than 200 other trials currently underway around the world.There are more than 200 other trials currently underway around the world.
Why have the drugs become so controversial?Why have the drugs become so controversial?
Promotion by leading political figures such as President Trump has led to both hydroxychloroquine, and the related drug chloroquine, becoming the subject of widespread speculation online about their potential benefits and harmful effects.Promotion by leading political figures such as President Trump has led to both hydroxychloroquine, and the related drug chloroquine, becoming the subject of widespread speculation online about their potential benefits and harmful effects.
This has led to high demand for the drugs and global supply shortages.This has led to high demand for the drugs and global supply shortages.
There's also been controversy within the scientific community.There's also been controversy within the scientific community.
Trials around the world were temporarily derailed when a study published in The Lancet claimed the drug increased fatalities and heart problems in some patients.Trials around the world were temporarily derailed when a study published in The Lancet claimed the drug increased fatalities and heart problems in some patients.
The results prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) and others to halt trials over safety concerns.The results prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) and others to halt trials over safety concerns.
However, the Lancet subsequently retracted the study when it was found to have serious shortcomings and the WHO has resumed its trials.However, the Lancet subsequently retracted the study when it was found to have serious shortcomings and the WHO has resumed its trials.
Other studies have looked at using the drugs as a preventative measure against Covid-19.Other studies have looked at using the drugs as a preventative measure against Covid-19.
The Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) is conducting mass clinical trials and has enrolled 40,000 frontline workers in Europe, Africa, Asia and South America, giving participants either chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine or a placebo.The Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) is conducting mass clinical trials and has enrolled 40,000 frontline workers in Europe, Africa, Asia and South America, giving participants either chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine or a placebo.
Professor Sir Nick White, who's leading the trial, said: "Most experts agree there is a much better chance of benefit in prevention than treatment."Professor Sir Nick White, who's leading the trial, said: "Most experts agree there is a much better chance of benefit in prevention than treatment."
This study has however been placed on hold following the fallout from The Lancet's retracted study.This study has however been placed on hold following the fallout from The Lancet's retracted study.
There haven't yet been results from this or other ongoing randomised studies on the drugs as a preventative treatment.There haven't yet been results from this or other ongoing randomised studies on the drugs as a preventative treatment.
What are the side-effects of hydroxychloroquine?What are the side-effects of hydroxychloroquine?
A number of countries have authorised the hospital use of hydroxychloroquine or its use in clinical studies under the supervision of healthcare professionals.A number of countries have authorised the hospital use of hydroxychloroquine or its use in clinical studies under the supervision of healthcare professionals.
In March the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted "emergency use" authorisation for these drugs in the treatment of Covid-19 for a limited number of hospitalised cases. In March the FDA granted "emergency use" authorisation for these drugs in the treatment of Covid-19 for a limited number of hospitalised cases.
But the FDA subsequently issued a warning about the risk of the drugs causing serious heart rhythm problems in coronavirus patients. The agency cautioned against using these drugs outside of a hospital setting or clinical trial. But the FDA subsequently issued a warning about the risk of the drugs causing serious heart rhythm problems in coronavirus patients and cautioned against using them outside of a hospital setting or clinical trial.
And in June, the FDA withdrew the drug.
There have also been reports of people poisoning themselves taking the drugs without medical supervision.There have also been reports of people poisoning themselves taking the drugs without medical supervision.
The WHO has responded by advising people not to self-medicate and "has cautioned against physicians and medical associations recommending or administering these unproven treatments."The WHO has responded by advising people not to self-medicate and "has cautioned against physicians and medical associations recommending or administering these unproven treatments."
France had authorised hospitals to prescribe the drugs for patients with Covid-19 but later reversed that decision after the country's medical watchdog warned of possible side effects.France had authorised hospitals to prescribe the drugs for patients with Covid-19 but later reversed that decision after the country's medical watchdog warned of possible side effects.
Why have these drugs gained such prominence?Why have these drugs gained such prominence?
There were a number of early small studies in China and France that claimed the drugs could benefit coronavirus patients.There were a number of early small studies in China and France that claimed the drugs could benefit coronavirus patients.
But it was when President Trump first mentioned it at a press briefing in late-March that sparked a global surge of interest in the treatment.But it was when President Trump first mentioned it at a press briefing in late-March that sparked a global surge of interest in the treatment.
And in April he said: "What do you have to lose? Take it."And in April he said: "What do you have to lose? Take it."
Mr Trump revealed in May that he was taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventative measure against Covid-19, but later said he'd stopped.Mr Trump revealed in May that he was taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventative measure against Covid-19, but later said he'd stopped.
Following the president's first comments, there was a sharp increase reported in prescriptions in the US for both hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine.Following the president's first comments, there was a sharp increase reported in prescriptions in the US for both hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has also championed the drug, claiming in a video that "hydroxychloroquine is working in all places." This was removed by Facebook for breaching its misinformation guidelines.Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has also championed the drug, claiming in a video that "hydroxychloroquine is working in all places." This was removed by Facebook for breaching its misinformation guidelines.
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