3 ms·

Exactly. Since the risks and side-effects are well-established, it’s more ethical at this point to experiment on humans with an “off label” usage. Doctors do th

Exactly. Since the risks and side-effects are well-established, it’s more ethical at this point to experiment on humans with an “off label” usage. Doctors do that all the time with other meds.

_ph_ 7y ago
Yes, doctors should experiment with the drug and I am certain, a lot of those, who have the necessary conditions to perform a proper experiment, will do. What should not happen now is, that the general public starts taking the drug as a precaution, just because it might work. The known side-effects are too severe (e.g. blindness) and also, there are already shortages of the drug for those who already require it as part of their medical treatment (e.g. immune-supressed).
- ekianjo 7y ago
  > Blindness This side effect occurs if you take chloroquine for extended periods of time. Look at the data. https://eyewiki.aao.org/Hydroxychloroquine_toxicity https://eyewiki.aao.org/Hydroxychloroquine_toxicity "Risk for toxicity is less with <5.0 mg/kg real weight/day for hydroxychloroquine and <2.3 mg/kg real weight/day for chloroquine[2]. Patients are at low risk during the first 5 years of treatment." And management is as simple as stopping the drug if it starts affecting your vision: "At the first signs of retinal toxicity, hydroxychloroquine should be stopped to prevent further retinal damage and visual loss[2]. "
  - kevingadd 7y ago
    I'd note that the phrase "further retinal damage and visual loss" implies that retinal damage and visual loss has already occurred... how much of that you are willing to tolerate is up to you, I suppose: I'd prefer 0 unless necessary. If the retinal damage is saving me from a death at the hands of COVID-19 maybe it's worth it, but if it's not...
    - ekianjo 7y ago
      This kind of damage does not occur with short term use of the drug.
  - mcguire 7y ago
    https://www.drugs.com/sfx/hydroxychloroquine-side-effects.html#for-professionals https://www.drugs.com/sfx/hydroxychloroquine-side-effects.ht... Common (1-10%): rash, itching, diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, headache, blurred vision, "Affect liability" (got no idea what that is).
- Erlich_Bachman 7y ago
  Did you just read the list of side-effects without checking how often they happen? With that mindset any over the counter medicine will read like description of Zyklon B.

Exactly. Since the risks and side-effects are well-established, it’s more ethical at this point to experiment on humans with an “off label” usage. Doctors do that all the time with other meds.

_ph_ 7y ago

Yes, doctors should experiment with the drug and I am certain, a lot of those, who have the necessary conditions to perform a proper experiment, will do. What should not happen now is, that the general public starts taking the drug as a precaution, just because it might work. The known side-effects are too severe (e.g. blindness) and also, there are already shortages of the drug for those who already require it as part of their medical treatment (e.g. immune-supressed).

ekianjo 7y ago
> Blindness This side effect occurs if you take chloroquine for extended periods of time. Look at the data. https://eyewiki.aao.org/Hydroxychloroquine_toxicity https://eyewiki.aao.org/Hydroxychloroquine_toxicity "Risk for toxicity is less with <5.0 mg/kg real weight/day for hydroxychloroquine and <2.3 mg/kg real weight/day for chloroquine[2]. Patients are at low risk during the first 5 years of treatment." And management is as simple as stopping the drug if it starts affecting your vision: "At the first signs of retinal toxicity, hydroxychloroquine should be stopped to prevent further retinal damage and visual loss[2]. "
- kevingadd 7y ago
  I'd note that the phrase "further retinal damage and visual loss" implies that retinal damage and visual loss has already occurred... how much of that you are willing to tolerate is up to you, I suppose: I'd prefer 0 unless necessary. If the retinal damage is saving me from a death at the hands of COVID-19 maybe it's worth it, but if it's not...
  - ekianjo 7y ago
    This kind of damage does not occur with short term use of the drug.
- mcguire 7y ago
  https://www.drugs.com/sfx/hydroxychloroquine-side-effects.html#for-professionals https://www.drugs.com/sfx/hydroxychloroquine-side-effects.ht... Common (1-10%): rash, itching, diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, headache, blurred vision, "Affect liability" (got no idea what that is).
Erlich_Bachman 7y ago
Did you just read the list of side-effects without checking how often they happen? With that mindset any over the counter medicine will read like description of Zyklon B.