07-30-2020, 04:41 PM
(07-30-2020, 03:14 PM)Sled21 Wrote: Well here's the bottom line, and then I'm done discussing it. If you don't want to take it because you don't think it works, then don't. There ain't no one forcing it down your throat. Personally, if I get it, I'm taking it in the off chance all of those doctors swearing by it are correct. It's been around for almost 70 years, it's safe, so there's nothing to lose by trying. There is no other treatment other than Remdesivir which is lackluster in it's results as well. That's my choice. You do you, I'll do me.
I see a minimum of ten Covid 19 patients every shift since we started testing in early June (so minimum of 280) in an out patient setting and the majority have ranged from asymptomatic to mildly to moderately ill. Some have needed to be admitted, but at that point they're out of my care. I've only had one patient asked for hydroxychloroquine. I told them the same thing I told you; it's not indicated for Covid 19 based upon a lack of evidence it helps. That was the end of it. I get more shit from patients about wanting an antibiotic for a cold.
If I get Covid 19, I'm not going to take hydroxychloroquine because a Tic Tac has as much evidence it works for Covid 19. Despite your claim there in nothing to lose by trying it, I know it can cause fatal arrhythmias even in people without pre-existing heart diseases. So the small risk of a known adverse reactions outweighs the benefit of medication without a proven benefit. There is no way of predicting whether it would or wouldn't cause an arrhythmia because of QT prolongation. And just because it didn't happen in the past doesn't mean it can't happen in the future.
Now if I'm critically ill in the ICU, then the possible benefit of using an unproven drug outweighs the risk of fatal arrhythmia because at that point they're trying to prevent me from dying anyway. But, at that point I won't be in any position to dictate to the ICU doctor what medications I will or won't take. But, I'm sure a Critical Care Specialist who knows much more than I would love for me to tell them how to do their job.
And I listed other treatments earlier, such as methylprednisolone or dexamethasone that do have evidence they work. You would be much better off requesting medications that have evidence they work, than ones that don't. And stop listening to economist and politicians for your medical advice.
