Posted on 06/27/2020 11:27:13 AM PDT by absalom01
New Delhi: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the country’s apex body in the field, has found that consuming the drug hydroxychloroquine reduces the chances of getting infected with Covid-19.
As a result, ICMR released an advisory Friday to expand the usage of HCQ — an anti-malarial drug — as a preventive treatment against the novel coronavirus.
The conclusion has been drawn on the basis of three studies conducted by the ICMR.
The advisory suggests surveillance workers, paramilitary and police personnel, as well as medical staff working in non-Covid hospitals and blocks to start consuming the pill as “preventive therapy”.
ICMR had issued an advisory to begin using HCQ in March, but it had drawn criticism for lacking scientific evidence that the drug works against the novel coronavirus.
Also read: How the humble hydroxychloroquine has become India’s unlikely new global strategic asset
The studies According to the advisory, the premier health body undertook investigation at three central government hospitals in New Delhi. While it did not reveal the names of the hospitals, it said the investigation indicates that “amongst healthcare workers involved in Covid-19 care, those on HCQ prophylaxis were less likely to develop SARS-CoV-2 infection, compared to those who were not on it”.
The advisory also states that the National Institute of Virology in Pune has found in laboratory testing that HCQ reduces the viral load.
The ICMR also analysed data collected previously, known as retrospective case-control analysis, and found “a significant” relationship between “the number of doses taken and frequency of occurrence of Covid-19 infection in symptomatic healthcare workers who were tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection”.
It further said “the benefit was less pronounced in healthcare workers caring for a general patient population”.
Another observational study was conducted among 334 healthcare workers at the country’s largest public hospital, New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). The 248 workers who took HCQ as preventive drug for an average of six weeks had lower incidence of the infection than those not taking the pill.
Which workers will use it now? Based on the findings of the studies, the government has decided to administer the drug as a ‘prophylaxis’ or preventive therapy to asymptomatic healthcare workers working in non-Covid hospitals as well as non-Covid blocks of hospitals earmarked for Covid treatment.
Asymptomatic frontline workers, such as surveillance workers deployed in containment zones, as well as paramilitary and police personnel involved in Covid-related activities will be asked to pop HCQ pills.
Until now, only high-risk individuals, including asymptomatic healthcare workers involved in containment and treatment of Covid-19 patients, and asymptomatic household contacts of laboratory-confirmed cases, were being administered the drug. They will continue to consume the drug.
While the dosage will remain the same as before, eight weeks, the ICMR advisory suggests that it can be used beyond that period as well, but with close monitoring.
“With available evidence for its safety and beneficial effect as a prophylactic drug against SARS-CoV-2 during the earlier recommended 8 weeks period, the experts further recommended for its use beyond 8 weeks on weekly dosage with strict monitoring of clinical and ECG parameters, which would also ensure that the therapy is given under supervision,” it stated.
“In clinical practice, HCQ is commonly prescribed in a daily dose of 200mg to 400mg for treatment of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus for prolonged treatment periods with good tolerance,” the advisory added.
Discontinue if ‘rare side effects’ are noted The ICMR had earlier announced that some side effects, such as abdominal pain and nausea, have been observed in healthcare workers who were administered HCQ.
The anti-malaria drug is often blamed for triggering irregular heartbeat.
However, in the final results of the studies (HCQ prophylaxis among 1,323 healthcare workers), the ICMR found mild adverse effects such as nausea in 8.9 per cent workers, abdominal pain in 7.3 per cent, vomiting in 1.5 per cent, low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) in 1.7 per cent and cardio-vascular effects in 1.9 per cent.
The advisory states the drug should be discontinued if it causes the “rare” side effects related to the heart, such as cardiomyopathy, a disease which makes it harder for heart to pump blood to the entire body, and heart-rate disorders.
The advisory mentions that HCQ, in rare cases, can cause visual disturbance, including “blurring of vision, which is usually self-limiting and improves on discontinuation of the drug”.
ICMR has clarified that “for the above cited reasons — heart and vision — the drug has to be given under strict medical supervision with an informed consent”.
TLDR; Preliminary results from very large numbers of workers in India shows HCQ is effective in preventing COVID infection. Dosing regimen similar to use in Lupus patients which is show to be safe and well tolerated for almost everyone.
Great post. This could have been over in April had we distributed HCQ+ZINC for widespread use. But no. Our medical leadership decided to play footsies with politics.
What would be the cost of HCQ per dose when everyone is taking it; given the law of supply and demand?
Trump was wise to use HCQ and should continue its use.
That’s right, no one needs to be infected with this virus or very few do.
Gee....Fauci must have missed it....Almost like a vaccine....wouldn’t that be a kicker....
I believe the cost for the regimen was 10 cents.
Good news!
Thanks for posting this!
Sheesh, all of the above is considerably less than the side effects of the commercials we see on TV for various new pharmaceuticals. The side effects at the end of the commercials go longer than the actual advertisement.
Going to have to increase my gin and tonic regimen by twice today.
RE: Older article about the use of HCQ as COVID prophylaxis among heath care workers and first responders in India.
May 22,2020 is just a month ago.
Not that older. And science is science. Nature doesn’t change regardless of how long ago things are.
Ha! I'll stick with my Morgan rum once a day. However, that doesn't include how many drinks in the day.
Who would have thought it. The Liberal Democrat scum was too busy making fun of Trump for using and promoting it to consider it was a valid option
Early! Not when people are already sick. Those who intentionally mis-used it to diminish its effectiveness need to have their asses sued off for malpractice. I’m no doctor but I can read, and that’s what EVERY study says.
A elderly woman I get groceries for had me get some ADULT ELECTROLYTE. She wanted it because the TV told her to get it. Plus, she is kind of a hypochondriac.
Anyway, she had the same 2 bottles for months and never drank them. So she gave them to me.
Man, I love the taste. I work hard out in the Sun often, and sweat like a ..... well, I could create my own river.
So.... I noticed that it says the product also contains ZINC.
It’s expensive, but it’s probably just gatorade. Tastes much better though. Also it seems to quench the thirst and lasts a long, long time.
I plan to get some more (also compare the ingredients with gatorade) because I’d much rather get the ZINC from a tasty drink than having to buy pills with ZINC.
I can see the future where everyone drinks ADULT ELECTROLYTES with ZINC. Maybe they could make it a little cheaper and call it Brawndo: The Thirst Mutilator.
“Our medical leadership decided to play footsies with politics.”
Our medical leadership = politics.
If they wanted to play footsies with politics, they didn’t have far to go to find a willing playmate.
Quite a few weeks ago Dr. Oz was trying to find out from health insurance companies how many people who had been on long term use of HCQ had come down with coronavirus or been seriously ill or died. This could have been a very useful piece of information but I have never seen the results of this exploration. I wonder if he was pressured into stopping the research.
CDC/MSM/Dems would rather people die than for HQC to get any positive press just because of Trump.
These people are dangerous.
What’s the name?
Just ready to get this crap and get it over with while its still warm enough to spend sick days soaking up some sun. Not in january. They have dragged this crap out by mandating everyone hide under the sink. Biblically drunk with power.
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