I
received the following letter today from a PAASE member, detailing the
dangers of Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine approved by FDA for
malaria but not for corona virus as Trump falsely proclaimed in TV the
other day. Dr Fauci clarified that Trump announcement was not true.
Here's the letter for your information.
"Trump is wrong! It is not meant for prophylaxis or prevention. It should
be reserved for high-risk COVID + cases admitted in hospital, and is
part of many protocols (together with Azithromycin).
People circulating this, including their recommended prophylactic
dose for adults and children, are dangerous and must be stopped:
The Vibermongerers and Viberquackdocs are even posting the dose:
“Start Chloroquine 500 mg one tablet per week as a prophylaxis for covid
for adults. For kids take in syrup form and equivalent to 8.3 mg per
week dose. Prophylaxis can be continued for 6 to 8 weeks.” NO baseline
screening (retina, heart, liver, G6PD)! Dangerous!
Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine belong to the quinolone family.
Although their therapeutic and toxic doses differ, they are related
drugs with similar clinical indications for use and similar
manifestations of retinal toxicity.
Shown to cause severe hypoglycemia including loss of consciousness
that could be life-threatening in patients treated with or without
antidiabetic medications; patients should be warned about risk of
hypoglycemia and associated clinical signs and symptoms; patients
presenting with clinical symptoms suggestive of hypoglycemia during
treatment with chloroquine should have blood glucose level checked and
treatment reviewed as necessary.
Cases of cardiomyopathy resulting in cardiac failure, in some cases
with fatal outcome, QT interval prolongation, torsades de pointes, and
ventricular arrhythmias reported; Caution with hepatic disease,
alcoholism, and coadministration with other hepatotoxic drugs; Caution
with history of auditory damage; May provoke seizures in patients with
history of epilepsy.
May cause hemolysis in glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD)
deficiency; blood monitoring may be needed as hemolytic anemia may
occur, in particular in association with other drugs that cause
hemolysis.
- Antimalarial w/ antiviral activity
- interferes w/ viral entry by changing acidification inside of cell
- inhibits SARS-CoV2 co-receptor
- immune modulating activity (we don’t know yet if that’s good or bad for COVID-19)
- Inexpensive, long track record
- In vitro has similar effectiveness against SARS-CoV2 as Remdesivir
- Reported
to improve pneumonia, viral clearance, and disease course from China
cases (but we don’t have RCT trial data or robust cases of this)
- Requires higher dose than for malaria: 500mg BID
- Limited supply in the US
- Hydroxychloroquine: related to chloroquine
- Preferred as alternative: can increase PO dose, has decreased drug interactions, and is more widely tolerated
- May be more potent against SARS-CoV2 than chloroquine (in vitro studies)
Personal Note: As a retired FDA Chemistry Team
Leader in the Division Of Anti-Infective Drug Products, I am familiar of
the side effects and dangers of Chloroquine if a proper dosage is not
given to the patients. What works in the Lab(in vitro studies) do not
necessary translate as safe and effective to humans!
