Hydroxychloroquine rated ‘most effective therapy’

| April 3, 2020


COVID-19

Only time will tell if any of the assays, medical equipment or drugs the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is approving for use during the COVID-19 pandemic under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) will turn out to be ineffective or substandard. Now, the agency issued an EUA for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, long-used malaria drugs to treat the illness caused by the novel coronavirus.

Scientists and physicians have been cautious about use of the drug for the disease, while President Trump touted it as a “game changer.”

Poetrooper sends.

…by doctors for coronavirus: Global survey

Drug known for treating malaria used by U.S. doctors mostly for high-risk COVID-19 patients

By Valerie Richardson

An international poll of more than 6,000 doctors released Thursday found that the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine was the most highly rated treatment for the novel coronavirus.

The survey conducted by Sermo, a global health care polling company, of 6,227 physicians in 30 countries found that 37% of those treating COVID-19 patients rated hydroxychloroquine as the “most effective therapy” from a list of 15 options.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave chloroquine and its next-generation derivative, hydroxychloroquine, emergency-use authorization Monday for treating the novel coronavirus, although the drug was already being used off-label by some doctors and hospitals for COVID-19 patients.

The survey also found that the most commonly prescribed treatments are analgesics (56%), azithromycin (41%) and hydroxychloroquine (33%).

Azithromycin, known by the brand name Zithromax or Z-Pak, was rated the second-most effective therapy at 32%, followed by “nothing,” analgesics (including acetaminophen), anti-HIV drugs and cough medicine.

Read the rest of the article here: Washington Times

Thanks, Poe.

Category: COVID-19, Guest Link, Health Care debate

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Slow Joe

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Why have scientists and physicians been cautious?

26Limabeans

“Revatio” comes to mind……..

SFC D

Thalidomide.

timactual

And my favorite, Viox. I miss my Viox, every day when I get up and try to move.

HMCS(FMF) ret

Same here…

26Limabeans

Hey, it’s for the “heart”

timactual

Or “affairs of the heart”.

Firebase

And let’s not forget Thalidomide, maybe the most egregious example. It was developed in Germany, then tested and released to the general public in Western Europe. But it was not put on the market in the USA, where it was blocked by one stubborn FDA beaurocrat. Within a year babies were being born without limbs throughout Europe, but not in the USA.

I know I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s worth repeating. However, under the present emergency circumstances, I say full speed ahead with hydroxychloroquinine, and damn the potential torpedoes.

OWB

Not sure where you are getting that none were born in the US. Don’t know where the mothers acquired the drug. Perhaps it was illegally. But the fact remains that babies were born here bearing the negative effects of their mothers taking thalidomide.

Firebase

This all happened quite a few decades ago, back in the 1950’s. I do recall there were a couple of cases in the US. But the mother could only have obtained Thalidomide here via illegal sources. Heroin is available here too, but you can’t just purchase it off the shelf at Walgreens.

Poetrooper

None of these drugs you folks are citing have a century-long track record of safe use in tens (maybe hundreds) of millions of patients. Nor were they on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines, “the safest and most effective medicines needed in a health system.”

Doctors know that…

Poetrooper

Yep, I suspect we’re going to see a huge ramp-up in production and widespread application for prophylaxis, and not just with health professionals, but the general population.

Imagine the schadenfreude on our side of the political spectrum if this drug, so disparaged by the media, turns out to be the savior of our nation.

And you know who will be claiming he was for it all along…

OldSoldier54

Exactly. Which makes the whole Roosevelt fiasco even more puzzling.

Capital ship with 5000 crew should have had a significant medical staff.

Couple this with the Big Stick’s AOR having lots of opportunity for malaria infection, means that there very likely was Hydroxycholroquine available to treat the malaria, if not aboard, then on the floating Costcos that are a part of any Strike Group.

Why Captain Crozier, in apparent desperation for the health of his crew, chose to write a letter to a rag in what may be the most notoriously liberal city in the Republic may be known to him only, but IMO, it doesn’t reflect well on him, or his command ability.

MTFAO

Before I left the Army in 2014, the available choices for malaria prone areas were mefloquine and doxycycline followed with two weeks of primaquine post deployment. Chloroquine and hydoxychloroquine were not options. Maybe things have changed since but in three deployments doxy was what I was given both at embassies and by the military.

SFC D

Last time I took chloroquine was Bagram ’02, weekly prophylactic doses. Anyone with an allergy got mefloquine. We were issued doxycylcline pills in Iraq ’03 because of the anthrax possibility, but they were never used. Docs shot me full of doxy for pneumonia that year, worked like a champ.

A Proud Infidel®™

We had to take a daily 10mg dose of Doxycycline when I was in A-stan, they told us it was to prevent Malaria.

Hondo

Same here; ditto in Iraq, as I recall.

timactual

In the olden days we took Cloroquine and Dapsone for malaria. A big orange pill and a little white one, don’t remember which was which.

Some folks didn’t take any anti-malarials for various reasons. One reason was that malaria was “a good sham”; an excuse to get out of the field.

PFM

Took Chloroquine for OIF 2, something else for Iraq 2009-10 and Astan 2012. Still alive today.

Poetrooper

I brought this up the other day when there were just a few cases reported on the Roosevelt–that they had the means to nip this thing in the bud.

Why do I suspect that all the anti-chloroquine crap being spewed by the media (and too many physicians in federal service) intimidated the ship’s medical staff.

There’s a possibility this whole fiasco could have been averted had chloroquine therapy been instituted immediately.

What say some of you HM’s who post here? IDC/SARC?

OldSoldier54

I would be completely unsurprised to learn that was a factor …

timactual

Lawyers. And politicians.

ChipNASA
Fjardeson

I remember that. Yucky.

HMCS(FMF) ret

Anal leakage… enough said.

David

Like trying to hold in shit the consistency of 3-in-1 oil, I’ve heard.

DUTCH in Atlanta

Hydroxychloroquine and especially Azythromycin do not play well with some heart medications, namely Amiodarone for one. They mess with the heart synchronization.

Hondo

True, but the same is true of many other prescription drugs taken in combination that are otherwise safe when taken alone.

DUTCH in Atlanta

I already have filled scrips for both, but currently am taking Amiodarone for atrial flutter. I hope that I don’t have to make a decision to take or not take the HCQ and/or Z-Pak if the need arises.

Decisions, decisions!

timactual

There are lots of different anti-arrhythmic (damn that’s hard to spell!) medications. The one my first doc prescribed, verapamil, had a nasty side effect. Second doc prescribed some godawful expensive one that reduced my resting pulse to 37. Didn’t bother me but made him nervous. Third doc has me on metoprolol. Sometimes it’s trial and error. That’s why medicine is an art.

Poetrooper

Re heart medications and side effects: Years ago Miz Poe had a persistent, aggravating cough that multiple doctors and multiple tests could find no cause for–it was deemed idiopathic–of unknown origin.

Until we happened to stumble across the information on the Internet that a persistent, hacking cough was a fairly common side effect associated with the blood pressure medication Lisinopril. She changed meds and the cough quickly disappeared, never to return.

Even though many doctors don’t want to acknowledge it, not all the medical information you read on the Web is bullshit.

5th/77th FA

Roger Copy all of the above.

This is why they call it “Practicing medicine!” “I have a medical practice.”

I just needs me a Nurse Good Body to take care of this swelling I got.

timactual

Speaking of old-time non-clinically tested remedies, I hear saltpeter will reduce that swelling.

My late father-in-law used to have prescriptions from a half dozen or so doctors around the country, since he traveled a lot. He had a lot of problems. My sister-in-law, a nurse, finally sat down with all his medications, there were a lot, and analyzed his pharmaceutical menu. Lots of side effects and conflicts. Ended up reducing his drug intake substantially and many of his problems disappeared.

Inbred Redneck

I’m not sure there’re many young sailors on the ship.

Inbred Redneck

Sorry, should’ve been “I’m not sure there’re many young sailors on the ship takin’ heart meds.”

timactual

You did have me wondering what Navy or what ship you were thinking of.

Jeff LPH 3, 63-66

I’ll bet the demorat libertards hope the drug doesn’t work so as to affect the upcoming election and also if it does work, it will make the POTUS look good which those demorats will hate. It worked in France and I think in Spain where the rain falls mainly on the plain and 6,000 doctors agree that it will work. I wonder if any of those Doctors are from the US and if so most be pro Trump.

Poetrooper

I sent this to Ed because, as most of you know, we had a spirited discussion here recently regarding the efficacy and safety of the chloroquine drugs in treating this latest Chinese virus. As could be expected, the liberal element here parroted the anti-Trump media’s attack on this treatment regimen, claiming that it was not federally approved nor was it safe to use it without further controlled clinical trials. I and others here argued that the drugs have been safely used worldwide for a century and that we do not have time for such formal niceties in the face of a lethal pandemic.

Our resident liberal cohort clearly were wrong–the FDA has since issued emergency approval and as this physician’s survey demonstrates, the drugs are most certainly effective for many patients.

I would hazard the actual numbers would be significantly higher were it not for the suppressing effect on the drugs’ use by the media’s hysterical, politically-based attacks. Once again, angry, wrong-headed, hate-inspired liberalism has cost lives as the Democrats and their media minions prioritized political advantage over the right and moral course of action in a crisis.

MustangCryppie

Poe, a bit more info to strengthen your case.

I just went to the FDA website and according to them Hydroxychloroquine has been approved since 1955.

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&varApplNo=009768

Now, that approval wasn’t for the treatment of COVID-19 of course, but I would hazard a guess that any unforgivable side effects and contraindications would have been identified by now in the past almost 65 years.

Poetrooper

MC, it’s actually been in use for hundreds of years as an anti-malarial. It had long been used for that purpose by the native Quechua in Peru, when it was first sent to Rome in the 1600’s by an apothecary priest. There it became known as Jesuit’s Bark and has been used worldwide ever since.

There are very few drugs that can boast of such a long history of safe use.

MustangCryppie

Yup. Agree.

timactual

Not to mention that estimable beverage invented long ago by the Brits, the “gin and tonic” was invented to make Quinine more palatable.

Quinine, the original anti-malarial, from the bark of the cinchona tree.

thebesig

Originally posted by Poetrooper:

As could be expected, the liberal element here parroted the anti-Trump media’s attack on this treatment regimen, claiming that it was not federally approved nor was it safe to use it without further controlled clinical trials. I and others here argued that the drugs have been safely used worldwide for a century and that we do not have time for such formal niceties in the face of a lethal pandemic.

The leftists here also parroted the Chinese media. They had a doctor or scientist on one of their programs making it sound like the US was skipping ethical steps in order to rush a vaccine out. As you guys mentioned in response, the most common cure that the US side was talking about happened to be one that had already been through the ethical process for another medical issue.

26Limabeans

I was in Walmart the other day and noticed that
there were a lot of flea collars in the pet aisle.
Has anyone investigated their efficacy against
the Corona? The label says “not for humans” but in
times of crisis who knows what magic is in them.
Any volunteers?

Claw

All I know is that if the therapy comes down to taking a little white pill daily and the Big Orange Bomber once a week, all that toilet paper that has been grabbed up by hysterical hoarders will come in handy./smile

Ample supplies of the following items are on hand now in the TAH Supply Room for all DW’s who need it:

8540-00-530-3770 Toilet Tissue, Single-Ply
8540-01-380-0690 Toilet Tissue, 2-Ply

and the ever popular 8540-01-508-3708 Toilet Paper Tissue Packets, Presidential Rectum Approved/Rated Quality./smile

OldSoldier54

I’m not in the right tax bracket for the Presidential Rectum Approved TP. Alas …

A Proud Infidel®™

I was in line in Wal Mart with some cat food and treats when some nosy Woman and her TDWA (Teen Daughter With Attitude) dared to snidely ask me why I was only stocking up on cat food and treats. Having handily pushed my wiseass button, I responded with “Food is likely to get very short soon, so I thought I’d fatten the little boogers up before we have to eat them” TDWA started bawling and she just looked at me completely aghast, she had the poker face of a cow!

Cameron

That’s a good one right there. That’s a very good one.

OldSoldier54

You need a GoPro to record those Kodak Moments for posterity, Brother!!

Probably could have charged admission. Sounds hysterical.

5th/77th FA

API…:lol: 😆 😆 😆

Been there, done that! Had one a while back while getting K9 critter food ask if I liked cats, I told her they are quite tasty stuffed with cornbread dressing and baked in a dutch oven. As she looked at me aghast I asked her if she wanted some of my other grilled or stewed cat recipes. She beat feet. (The feline critter food was in the bottom of the buggy.)

On the subject of the thread, of which I’m sure that a certain seagull will show up soon with its empirical data, we need to try any med out there that has proven to NOT be harmful to people. You can’t ever tell how it may affect someone.When I had that FIRST TIA the docs said they were going to put me on Plavix. They didn’t know that in my body, it caused splitting headaches and almost complete paralysis. Not sure what they gave me as an antidote, but it appears as if I’m that one in every how many that can’t take it. And they had said that it was one of the common scripts for stroke victims. Go figure. Who’d a thunk bread mold concoctions would do what it does.

Poetrooper

KOB, back in the 70’s, “Out in the West Texas Town of El Paso,” young Poe was given a prescription for tetracycline for an infection.

During the night the head of Poe’s “Pride and Joy” began itching. When I got up to take a leak, I was horrified when I looked down at what I was holding in my hand–the head of my P&J was a bright red, itching, oozing mess.

I begged my way into a dermatologist’s office as soon as it opened, where the old doctor, somewhat amused at my panic, calmly asked me if I was taking any antibiotics and when I affirmed that, pronounced my problem to be a “fixed drug eruption,” a severe allergic response that only occurs at a specific spot on the body, with the glans penis being one of the more common target areas.

A switch in antibiotics and a topical steroid cream soon had me on my way and back in action. The doctor warned me that the next time it happened the reaction could be much more severe, possibly fatal. Since that day my medical records all reflect that I am not to be given tetracycline or its analogues under any conditions.

Poetrooper

If you think it’s painful to think about, you shoulda been there.

Heh…

5th/77th FA

Poe are you sure that your P&J did not have a starring role in one of our “training films” we had during basic? Did you get a young Ms Thang to apply that topical soothing cream for you? Maybe you should of went by the 18 wheeler dealership and got you a new Peter…built.

Poetrooper

Good thing for me Sweet Thang had never seen one of those training films or she’d likely never have touched it again.

Heh…

SFC D

I like cats. I just can’t feed a whole one by myself.

SFC D

kindly insert the word “eat” where appropriate. My apologies.

You’re not getting off that easily, SFC D.
AW1

tiger

SFC D

That’s some serious pussy right there!

HMCS(FMF) ret

Awesome reply… little snowflake is probably still in her room all traumatized over it.

timactual

My compliments! Keep up the good work.

A Proud Infidel®™

About six months ago I was in line with a big bag of dog food in my buggy when some nosy lady asked me if I had a dog (*DUHH!*) I replied to her that I was eating it myself as part of a weight loss plan despite it putting me in the hospital. When she asked further I explained that I would keep some of it in my pocket and snack on it when I felt like doing so, what put me in the hospital was from a Taxi hitting me when I was sitting on the curb licking my nuts!

Claw

That’s kinda like the flyer I got in the mail yesterday that said:

“While we would never think of profiting off of the Coronavirus, if you’re worried about running out of toilet paper, just call us at XXX-XXXX and we’ll come right out and install a $400.00 bidet in your home.”/s

Mason

“They’re out there, and they prey on fear.”

So is/does the DNC.

A Proud Infidel®™

Shysters and their snake oil…

timactual

Well, where’s the link?! I want to go there as soon as I finish this call from Microsoft telling my my ip address is expiring soon.

A Proud Infidel®™

Have you had the shysters calling to tell you that your SSN has been suspended? I actually took one of those calls and dragged him along for at least fifteen minutes until I made him cuss and hang up on me!

SFC D

I talked to that guy. I guess I pissed him off. He told me the police were on the way to arrest me. I’ve been waiting over a year for them to show up.

timactual

Not yet. I have been getting several a day saying “This is an apology call from your electric utility….”. Not a very convincing way to start a call; whoever heard of an apology from a public utility?

Anonymous

Like those shitheads going on about my “student loan forgiveness package” being ready for final approval… didn’t have any and, boy, do they squirm when I tell them after they’ve gone on for a while.

Ex-PH2

How does the chloroquine work? Does it block the cornona virus’s ability to grab onto a cell’s membranes and infect it, or is there something else going on? If it rendered the bug inert, that’s a bonus, but if it blocks reproduction, that’s even better.

OldSoldier54

As I understand it, it aids in transporting zinc through the cell wall into the interior. The zinc then inhibits viral reproduction stopping it cold.

Poetrooper

EX, good to see you back on the forum. Partial answer off the top of my head is that it blocks the “Cytokine Storm,” an immune system overreaction to the presence of the virus in the lungs. The virus build-up in the lungs causes a fatal auto-immune response and somehow the chloroquines inhibit that reaction.

Heard that from a doctor the other day…

Poetrooper

OS54’s response is correct as well. The most accurate answer is that we don’t, and likely won’t, know all the ways it works until this is long over.

HMCS(FMF) ret
Ex-PH2

Thanks for the info. If it inhibits the bug from doing its nasty deeds, fine by me.

My concern would be a side infection such as pneumonia, but whatever works to stop this thing is most important.

I hope that by the end of April, this is zapped, wrapped, trapped and capped. I need to be able to get out and take some long walks.

timactual

From what I have learned in the past few days pneumonia is not itself an infection but rather the result of infection or other causes. It is a complication of other conditions. Damaged cells, from whatever cause, cause inflammation which fills the lungs with fluid. Aspirational pneumonia, for example, is caused by inhaling things that should not be inhaled; stomach acid, chlorine or mustard gas, food, etc.

https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=4962

timactual

“Clinical investigation found that high concentration of cytokines were detected in the plasma of critically ill patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, suggesting that cytokine storm was associated with disease severity12. Other than its direct antiviral activity, HCQ is a safe and successful anti-inflammatory agent that has been used extensively in autoimmune diseases and can significantly decrease the production of cytokines and, in particular, pro-inflammatory factors. Therefore, in COVID-19 patients, HCQ may also contribute to attenuating the inflammatory response. In conclusion, our results show that HCQ can efficiently inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. In combination with its anti-inflammatory function, we predict that the drug has a good potential to combat the disease. ”

An excerpt from
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41421-020-0156-0

Heh. A bit more than you asked for, eh? Nature also has some other articles. By the time this quarantine business is over we should all be experts in something.

Welcome back, by the way.

SFC D

If it blocks reproduction, I might have a test subject in mind…

Sparks

Paging Lars! Paging Mr. Commissar…

HMCS(FMF) ret

Why are you doing that, Sparks… he’s probably off somewhere “massaging his empiric data”.

rgr769

Naw, I think he is in his room leering at his empiric data (cuz that is what excites him) while fapping furiously. Hopefully, he will keep it up until he goes blind.

A Proud Infidel®™

WHY are yo trying to conjure the goblin?

HMCS(FMF) ret

It’s his “private reflection period”

Sparks

I figured he had something to say…go figure.

timactual

I figured you ran out of Netflix movies, reached the end of the interwebs, and are getting terminally bored.