HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE

HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE : All that you need to know about the big talk.....

‘Hydroxychloroquine’ is not unfamiliar among people anymore, unlike in the pre-COVID era. The name of the drug has been flashing on the digital screens in multiple contexts related to the pandemic that is underway. The anti-malarial medication which was formerly used to control inflammation in patients of Malaria has now found its way to become such a hot topic among the masses, through its potential to prevent Corona virus infection, that American President Donald Trump claimed that he takes a few pills of HCQ as a preventive measure. This article gives you a gist of things you need to know about this agent

HISTORY:

The story of the drug dates back to the 17 century when Countess Cinchona, wife of the Viceroy of Peru, contracted Malaria. She was cured by a herbalist with the bark of a tree, which was later named “Cinchona” after the countess. It took around three centuries to isolate the active substance ‘Quinine’ from the bark of Cinchona. HCQ was then derived from its predecessor Quinine around the era of World War II to treat American Soldiers.

EXPANDING HORIZONS OF USAGE:

The discovery of the COVID-preventive potential of HCQ is serendipitous- out of accident. This is not the first time that the medication is being accredited for something that it was not meant for. It had previously been approved for the treatment of chronic illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease and even cancer. These discoveries, followed by methodologically well structured clinical studies, have broadened the horizons of usage of HC. The expanding clinical roles of this drug makes it a promising agent in the times to come.

COMBATING COVID:

 The most widely talked about among this cluster of medications is HCQ, The ICMR indian Council of Medical Research) approved the use of For the treatment of COVID-19. The role has now been expanded to prophylaxis for frontline workers in this combat against the infection. A new advisory has been published by the ICMR with regard to the use of HCQ.

SIDE EFFECTS:

Liver injury, Vomiting, Stomach pain or cramps,

Loos of appetite,Weight loss, Dizziness, Headache,  and many mild side effects.

THE NEW ADVISORIES INCLUDED IN THE FOLLOWING:-

✓ The advisory has included three new categories to whom HCQ shall be prescribed as prophylactic treatment. They are as follows;

•Asymptomatic Health care workers working in non-COVID hospitals

•Asymptomatic frontline workers that include workers employed in containment zones 

•Paramilitary and police personnel 

✓ The in-vitro testing of HCQ has showed reduction of infectivity of COVID-19.

✓ The drug is not prescribed for children under 15 years of age.

✓ The use of HCQ on high risk population has also been revised.

✓ The drug has to be provided only through prescription of a medical practitioner.

✓ Initially the use of the drug was allowed in asymptomatic patients without prescription.

WHY WERE THE ADVISORIES REQUIRED?

The data on assessment of using HCQ as prophylactic treatment says the following;

✓ Around 1,323 health care workers faced mild adverse effects.

✓ Some faced nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain.

✓ Some other health care workers faced cardiovascular effects as well.

CONCLUSION:

•There is no strong and concrete evidence to suggest HCQ as an effective prophylactic or a curative drug in tackling COVID-19 and its usage needs to be put under scrutiny. There are reports which even suggest that the drug increases the mortality rate in patients of the pandemic infection. Despite the pandemic’s intensity, we must not abandon sound scientific reasoning in these desperate times, exemplified blanket recommendation on chemoprophylaxis in the absence of any credible evidence.

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