The immunology department of Marseille, France reported 3 days ago that taking hydroxy-chloroquine and azithromycin together led to 90% of pilot program patients testing negative after 6 days.
There are also several publications under review at the NIH. Glad to see the US Gov. stepping up to the plate so fast on the subject.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroxychloroquine#Research
...
> Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have been recommended by Chinese and South Korean health authorities for the treatment COVID-19.[31] [32] In vitro studies have demonstrated that hydroxychloroquine is more potent than chloroquine against SARS-CoV-2 with a more tolerable safety profile.[33]
> On 16 March 2020, advisor to the French Government on COVID-19, Professor Didier Raoult, announced that a non-randomized unblinded trial[34] involving 24 patients from the south east of France supported the claim that hydroxychloroquine was an effective treatment for COVID-19.[35] The trial is yet to be peer-reviewed.[34] An amount of 600 mg of hydroxychloroquine (brand name Plaquenil) was administered to these patients every day for 10 days. They reported "a significant decrease in viral load".[34] The drug appeared to be responsible for a "rapid and effective speeding up of their healing process, and a sharp decrease in the amount of time they remained contagious".[36] 70% of patients were "considered cured", compared with 12.5% of those who did not receive hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin combination.[34] The antibiotic azithromycin - which is known to be effective against secondary infections from bacterial lung disease - led to even better outcomes. Professor Raoult said the results showed there was "a spectacular reduction in the number of positive cases" with the combination therapy. At 6 days, among patients given combination therapy, the percentage of cases still carrying SARS-CoV-2 was no more than 5%.[37][38]
> On March 17 after testing in several hospitals around Italy the Italian Pharmaceutical Agency has included hydroxychloroquine in the list of drugs with positive preliminary results for treatment of coronavirus disease 2019.[39]
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What is strange is that azithromycin - leads to better outcomes. It is used for bacterial infections but Covid is a virus. How can this be?
To any scientists - an anti-malarial is found to be effective against coronavirus. At the same time, initial reports are suggesting that people with type O blood have a reduced risk of infection and lower infection severity than those with other blood types. The same pattern also holds true for malaria, with type O blood having a protective and suppressive effect. If the coronavirus is getting into cells via the ACE2 receptor, why would we expect any of this other stuff to be effective? Why is an anti-parasitic working to reduce viral load? Why is the same blood type protective of both? What common mechanism of action or attack (perhaps hitching a ride on blood cells to spread through the body?) are we missing?
The report is from a small trial that was not blind or randomized. Encouraging, but hardly worthy of the headline. How about "Hydroxychloroquine associated with viral load reduction in a small number of Covid-19 patients"?
Study from Marseille seems well founded, although (of course) based on a small sample. Why isn't this higher up?
I hope this makes it on the front page. This might be a real solution to a large portion of the problem given that it is readily available, easy to manufacture, and prevents infection with less side effects than regular chloroquine. Large amounts of the population could be prescribed this as a prophylactic and prevent much of the spread from occurring even in high risk occupations. I would love to see the telehealth system used to send prescriptions for this to pharmacies everywhere for at risk workers.
This is exactly the kind of response we need. A well known, well understood medicine with a low risk profile that we can deploy as soon as possible.
If the CDC believes that destroying the economy to stop this disease is worth it, then I can't doubt that the FDA would agree that deploying this medication immediately is worth the risk.
Due to the outbreak global supplies will be disrupted also there are people that take it as prescription medicine for arthritis, its relevant people to have access to the synthesis of it. Here is a paper describing cost effective way to synthesis it [1].Its not trivial task but good information to have access to. Had a quick look at the precursor chemicals used in this synthesis they are sold from global chemical suppliers and doesn't seem to have any specific restriction for sell.
Anyone care to explain the risks of using this drug?
- I know one must get tested for G6PD deficiency or it may lead to a hemolytic crisis. But I'm unsure how probable one is to have it or how long until this potential problem arises.
- I heard this drug can cause heart attacks in some people, Can this be predicted by a test? Some users on r/covid19 were advising against taking it without doctor supervision in a hospital for this reason but didn't explain nor gave statistics, as usual. The problem was related to prolonged qt intervals
For those who are infected with Covid-19, but observe low severity in symptoms, is there a correlation to how they'll fare through the disease?
I.e., perhaps they need not even take this medication?
This is the first promising bit of news I've seen in days.
This looks like a vaccine to me.
We sometimes use weakened live viruses as vaccines. For example, we did it for polio.
Hydroxychloroquine weakens the virus. No, it isn't genetically weakened, but that doesn't make a difference. Start the person on hydroxychloroquine, then give them the virus.
Why are herbs never included in any clinical trials. Are they totally worthless although used extensively
~sigh~ just got this note from my mother, who has taken hydroxychloroquine ever since she was diagnosed with lupus over 30 years ago:
> just spent a nightmaremorning trying to get my Lupus meds. [after this hydroxychloroquine/covid-19 announcement], no pharmacy has any!
> I spoke directly to the pharmacist. she said that she has no control. this wil be first come first serve, she cannot give preferential treatment even though I have been diagnosed for 33 years and buying this med from her for a long time.
> she has reordered. shes gets many requests an hour today for MY lupus medication. im on a list