Since President Trump acknowledged he was taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventative measure, he’s been criticized by the left for taking and championing an “unproven” drug that could have serious side effects, as some physicians point out. But other doctors point to the fact that it’s been in use for decades to treat malaria, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, and is a “very, very safe drug.” Some on the frontlines of the coronavirus fight say using HCQ as a therapeutic in treating COVID-19 has been a game changer.
In India, its use as a prophylaxis appears--so far--to be working.
More than half of the 10,000 police officers in Mumbai over the age of 40 refused to take the drug as a preventative measure, while 4,500 of them took it diligently. There were zero deaths reported among those who took it and nine deaths among those who didn’t.
Around 10,000 policemen over the age of 40 years were to be given the drug, hydroxychloroquine sulphate (HCQS), which was cleared by the ICMR as a drug with the potential to prevent a novel coronavirus infection.
“However, only 4,500 of the policemen are taking the medicine diligently,” said Dr Sanjay Kapote of Apollo Clinics, who arranged for the tablets and their distribution across the police stations. […]
Dr Kapote said there was no mortality among the 4,500 policemen who took HCQS in Mumbai. “Although some in this group have contracted Covid, they had a mild attack,” he said. (Times of India)
India offered HCQ prophylaxis to 10,000 Mumbai policemen.
— James Todaro, MD (@JamesTodaroMD) May 20, 2020
About 4,500 routinely took HCQ, while 5,500 refused.
RESULTS:
HCQ group: 0 deaths
Non-HCQ group: 9 deaths
And those who contracted COVID-19 in the HCQ group had "mild attacks"
h/t @niro60487270https://t.co/8V6aspapfv
At the end of the day, it’s clear studies need to be done testing the drug's efficacy in treating COVID-19, but some physicians say trials haven't been able to be conducted because the drug has become so politicized.
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