Hydroxychloroquine

The hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin fiascoes have soured many doctors on repurposing drugs for COVID. A few inexpensive old drugs may be as good as some of the new antivirals, but they face complex obstacles to get to patients.

After a lengthy discussion and public comments, Commissioner Neil Combee agreed to make changes to the draft and offer it up at a future meeting.

Emergency use authorization makes it easier for doctors to use a drug in a manner not specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA granted these drugs this status in March.

A paper suggesting hydroxychloroquine increases the risk of death for patients with COVID-19 has been retracted by three of its authors because they were not able to verify the data used in the study.

A study of more than 800 health workers, first responders and others finds that taking hydroxychloroquine to prevent COVID-19 is no better than a placebo in preventing the illness.

The WHO cited a scientific study published last week suggesting that proposed COVID-19 drug hydroxychloroquine may do more harm than good in halting its study to review data.

Some scientists think this drug has promise for COVID-19. But controversy around the drug is complicating the job of scientists who just want to find answers.

The impact of the drug on the virus is being studied, but there is not yet evidence from medical trials — and there have been some warnings about side effects from taking the medicine.

HealthWarehouse says requests for hydroxychloroquine surged to 50 times the usual number in March. Its website crashed after Trump mentioned the drug, which is unproven to treat COVID-19.

Recruitment is underway in Orlando, Leesburg and Daytona Beach for a clinical trial to see if hydroxychloroquine could help prevent COVID-19…