3 ms·

It HCQ doesn't work, why is it the common first line of defense used internationally? Why does scholar.google.com list so many papers showing that it's effectiv

It HCQ doesn't work, why is it the common first line of defense used internationally? Why does scholar.google.com list so many papers showing that it's effective?

ceejayoz 6y ago
Because it's a highly effective and widespread malaria (and RA/lupus) treatment?
- vixen99 6y ago
  The dose for malaria is 200mg. It's the higher doses that are associated with heart arythmia in covid patients. According to a trial reported in https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s12916-018-1188-2 https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s129... "No serious cardiac adverse effects were recorded in malaria clinical trials of 35,548 participants who received quinoline and structurally related antimalarials with close follow-up including 18,436 individuals who underwent ECG evaluation." "Chloroquine is the most widely used antimalarial drug in history. It has a terminal elimination half-life of one month and an annual consumption of hundreds of tonnes for over 50 years, so it may be the drug to which humans have been exposed to most. Despite producing consistent QT prolongation, the only case reports of TdP and sudden death have been for its use for non-malaria indications such as systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis, where high doses are used for much longer than in malaria treatment, or in overdose"
  - marvin 6y ago
    Unless I'm mistaken, this paper refers to chloroquine, not hydroxychloroquine. They are often conflated in the media and colloquial reporting.
acallaghan 6y ago
Nothing is in the first line of defence against Covid - it's a novel virus
zackees 6y ago
I don't know why I'm getting downvoted. Anyone can verify what I'm saying if they go to scholar.google.com
- nck4222 6y ago
  Because your statement is misleading. Some countries are are using it more frequently than the US, but Germany and the UK prescribe it much less. Italy had the highest prescription rates, but are no longer using it. While France prescribed it more often than the US but are also stopping. Lastly, the argument of "if countries outside the US are prescribing it, it must work" is just nonsensical. Doctors prescribing a drug is not evidence a drug works. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.statista.com/chart/amp/21411/share-of-doctors-using-hydroxychloroquine-for-covid-19/ https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.statista.com/chart/amp/2141...

It HCQ doesn't work, why is it the common first line of defense used internationally? Why does scholar.google.com list so many papers showing that it's effective?

ceejayoz 6y ago

Because it's a highly effective and widespread malaria (and RA/lupus) treatment?

vixen99 6y ago
The dose for malaria is 200mg. It's the higher doses that are associated with heart arythmia in covid patients. According to a trial reported in https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s12916-018-1188-2 https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s129... "No serious cardiac adverse effects were recorded in malaria clinical trials of 35,548 participants who received quinoline and structurally related antimalarials with close follow-up including 18,436 individuals who underwent ECG evaluation." "Chloroquine is the most widely used antimalarial drug in history. It has a terminal elimination half-life of one month and an annual consumption of hundreds of tonnes for over 50 years, so it may be the drug to which humans have been exposed to most. Despite producing consistent QT prolongation, the only case reports of TdP and sudden death have been for its use for non-malaria indications such as systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis, where high doses are used for much longer than in malaria treatment, or in overdose"
- marvin 6y ago
  Unless I'm mistaken, this paper refers to chloroquine, not hydroxychloroquine. They are often conflated in the media and colloquial reporting.

acallaghan 6y ago

Nothing is in the first line of defence against Covid - it's a novel virus

zackees 6y ago

I don't know why I'm getting downvoted. Anyone can verify what I'm saying if they go to scholar.google.com

nck4222 6y ago
Because your statement is misleading. Some countries are are using it more frequently than the US, but Germany and the UK prescribe it much less. Italy had the highest prescription rates, but are no longer using it. While France prescribed it more often than the US but are also stopping. Lastly, the argument of "if countries outside the US are prescribing it, it must work" is just nonsensical. Doctors prescribing a drug is not evidence a drug works. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.statista.com/chart/amp/21411/share-of-doctors-using-hydroxychloroquine-for-covid-19/ https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.statista.com/chart/amp/2141...