Stop the prescription of hydroxychloroquine for Covid-19. In 2021, in the United States alone, there were more than 560,000 prescriptions of this drug, even in preventive form against the disease, but up-to-date scientific evidence provides support for such prescriptions to be stopped.
This is the opinion expressed in a comment published in The American Journal of Medicine, by researchers at the Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University and by some collaborators, who have reviewed the recent main randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled studies, and present an updated meta-analysis on hydroxychloroquine in post-exposure prophylaxis as well as in hospitalized patients. Last year, the same researchers called for a moratorium on the prescription of hydroxychloroquine in prevention or treatment pending the outcome of ongoing randomized trials.
“The updated randomized trials – notes Charles H. Hennekens, senior author of the article – provide even stronger support for the interruption of the prescription of hydroxychloroquine in the prevention or treatment of Covid-19”. The authors say that in addition to the lack of significant benefits, the new randomized trials show potential for harm. They explain that the previous reassuring safety profile of hydroxychloroquine is applicable to patients with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, predominantly young and middle-aged women, whose risks of fatal heart outcomes from the drug are very low. Conversely, the risks for Covid patients are significantly higher, because fatal cardiovascular complications from this drug are much higher in the elderly than in people with existing heart disease or predisposing factors.
“Premature and avoidable deaths – concludes Hennekens will continue to occur if people take hydroxychloroquine and avoid public health strategies of proven benefit, such as vaccinations and protective devices such as masks”. (HANDLE).
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