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The problem is patients only get this at the point that they require hospitalization. It should be as easy to get a short-term dose of this (unlikely to cause
by fhoe 7y ago
The problem is patients only get this at the point that they require hospitalization.
It should be as easy to get a short-term dose of this (unlikely to cause severe side effects) as it is to get a seasonal flu shot, and people should be advised to take it for two weeks (or whatever) at the onset of symptoms, or even as a prophylactic if they know they were exposed.
- fhoe 7y agoInstead of being able to order this from Amazon or Walmart online, you have to 1) go to a doctor, NP, or other medical practitioner with prescription power 2) convince them to write you the script (and pay them, directly or indirectly, for this service) 3) have it sent electronically (in NY) to the right pharmacy that can fill it 4) then go to the pharmacy and fill it The rent-seeking in our medical system will be the death of us.
- jaynetics 7y agoWell, you can go blind by overdosing it for a while ... Edit: but yes, this process will have to be simplified in every country if it turns out to be the primary recourse.
- fhoe 7y ago> Well, you can go blind by overdosing it for a while ... A "while" here means months, or even years. In fact, many people with Lupus or RA take this for years.
- the_watcher 7y agoIt's at least (apparently) easy to produce and abundantly available in other countries. The medical system status quo is a challenge, but not having to stand up an entirely new production line is a big plus here.
- ck2 7y agoGatekeeping on antivirals is probably not a horrible idea. One terrible solution we have in the USA because we refuse to see healthcare as a right (omg we can't have everyone healthy or too healthy) is many states have practicing nurses as pseudo-doctors at some pharmacies (ie. CVS "Minute Clinic") where you give them $100 to be seen, and then they write a script. It's disgusting but it's a solution.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- nimish 7y agoFor good reason as it has a "narrow therapeutic margin" i.e. too much will kill you, too little will do nothing/breed resistance. Regulations are written in blood.
- arwhatever 7y agoMay not be the case here, but I think plenty of regulations are written in money, rather than blood.
- CamperBob2 7y agoSo why is acetaminophen still on the market?
- cm2187 7y agoI don't think he was suggesting it as a preventive use. Rather as a way for patients that have been diagnosed with the virus, even with little symptoms, to make them less contagious quicker (and therefore to significantly slow down the propagation of the virus).