Posted on 04/10/2020 10:43:12 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The nation's leading cardiology associations urged caution with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin for COVID-19 in patients with cardiovascular disease.
"Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin have been touted for potential prophylaxis or treatment for COVID-19; both drugs are listed as definite causes of torsade de pointes" and increase in the risk of other arrhythmias and sudden death, the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, and the Heart Rhythm Society said in a joint statement April 8 in Circulation.
The statement came amid ongoing promotion by the Trump administration of hydroxychloroquine, in particular, for COVID-19 despite lack of strong data.
In addition to underlying cardiovascular disease, "seriously ill patients often have comorbidities that can increase risk of serious arrhythmias," including hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, fever, and systemic inflammation, the groups said.
They recommended withholding the drugs in patients with baseline QT prolongation (e.g., QTc of at least 500 msec) or with known congenital long QT syndrome; monitoring cardiac rhythm and QT interval and withdrawing hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin if QTc exceeds 500 msec; correcting hypokalemia to levels greater than 4 mEq/L and hypomagnesemia to more than 2 mg/dL; and avoiding other QTc-prolonging agents when possible.
The groups noted that, "in patients critically ill with COVID-19 infection, frequent caregiver contact may need to be minimized, so optimal electrocardiographic interval and rhythm monitoring may not be possible." There is also a possible compounding arrhythmic effect when hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin are used together, but that has not been studied.
There's a known risk of torsade de pointes with chloroquine and a possible risk with the antiviral HIV combination drug lopinavir-ritonavir, two other candidates for COVID-19 treatment. Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, both antimalarials, might help prevent or treat infection by interfering with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors, which the COVID-19 virus uses for cell entry, the groups said.
"The urgency of COVID-19 must not diminish the scientific rigor with which we approach COVID-19 treatment. While these medications may work against COVID-19 individually or in combination, we recommend caution with these medications for patients with existing cardiovascular disease," Robert A. Harrington, MD, AHA president and chair of the department of medicine at Stanford (Calif.) University, emphasized in a press release.
SOURCE: Roden DM et al. Circulation. 2020 Apr 8. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.047521.
Deep State trying to put a halt on the cure. Anything to lengthen this crisis.
I’ve read through the side-effects of Hydroxyclorquine. IF there was a risk of arithymia it was downplayed. There was no mention of “sudden death”.
Not sure if I believe this.
Ventilators are not that great statistically.
We know that diabetes and heart disease increase morbidity among CV patients. Now we are learning perhaps why.
Can't necessarily blame this on the DS, but it is amazing how much we do NOT know about our bodies and how it works.
Because dying of a virus is a better way to go. Signed all left wing swamp dwelling (non-practicing) DR.s
It’s like these “super” specialists feel threatened by a $5 medication solution to a health crises.
There has ALWAYS been a cardiac and intestinal aspect to this drug. That’s been known for years.
It’s not a huge number of people in the gen pop...but since those things are co-morbidities for this disease, they represent a larger part of the targeted co-hort.
I am not sure why this surprises anyone.
People should understand what the medicines we inject can do to us. There are a ton of Freepers who have undiagnosed heart disease. I would caution anyone from just starting a prescription medication without understanding what it could do for you.
Got it, liberals, the drug is bad for you. Do Not Take It. (Leave more for us)
I understand not everyone will benefit or will be able to take the drug. Same as any other drug, though. Contraindications for all drugs. But I also see how this article seems to be timed to show Trumps efforts in a bad light.
Same folks who give out the poison called amiodarone OFF LABEL like candy to patients with A-Fib.
They must be funded by vax makers....oh wait....
Same as the CDC, Credibility Done Cratered.
“the American Heart Association”
That would be the same group that hates Keto diets and long promoted sugar as heart friendly - that used to give PopTarts their “Heart Healthy” label (in exchange for cash).
Amazing that increase heart problems and other issues regularly show up as possibilities on 1000s of American drugs but only this one is unacceptable. This one has been studied for over half a century. And is in regular use today throughout the world as well as America. And many doctors are prescribing it for them and their family.
Does anyone find it rich that a disease that is only 3 months old in America requires double blind random studies. Ventilators don’t have that, and yet they use them. Oxygen does not have that and yet they use it.
I have no medical background. However, this report makes no effort to either describe the actual risks or balance the risks of COVID-19 against heart complications. As to AHA President’s statement that “The urgency of COVID-19 must not diminish the scientific rigor with which we approach COVID-19 treatment. While these medications may work against COVID-19 individually or in combination, we recommend caution with these medications for patients with existing cardiovascular disease,” I see no reason for assuming that the use of such a treatment under exigent circumstances diminishes the scientific rigor of evaluating approaches to COVID-19.
These are the aholes who won’t even promote the concept of say, testing for blood magnesium levels, nor suggest normalizing vitamin D/K levels to prevent arterial blockage.
It’s all about power and the $$$, baby!
In all the articles written cautioning against HCQ I’ve noticed there are a lot of; perhaps, could, may, used in these articles.
The other thing I notice is how much coverage these articles get.
Yet, when a Rheumatologist with the largest practice in the country (>2000 Patients) writes to the FDA informing them that his patients which take HCQ every day have never experienced any heart-related problems. Not one time. His practice covers more than 35 YEARS. And, this man’s real-life experience is ignored.
I think every doctor should be aware of the possible side effects of the drugs they prescribe. Some drugs are contraindicated for patients with certain medical histories. That’s nothing new. They do admit that the drug combination may work against China coronavirus. They are just advising caution but unfortunately the media will try to present it as a dire warning that the drugs are dangerous.
The best doctors don’t join these associations, and if the do, they don’t seek out leadership positions in them. They are too busy treating their patients or doing real research.
Would HCQ effect those indicated with a “congestive heart” condition?
[[both drugs are listed as definite causes of torsade de pointes” and increase in the risk of other arrhythmias and sudden death,]]
How many have died as a direct irrefutable result of taking HCQ?
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