Monday, April 6, 2020

LA doctor seeing success with hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19

A Los Angeles doctor said he is seeing significant success in prescribing the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine in combination with zinc to treat patients with severe symptoms of COVID-19.

The drug has long been used for treatment of malaria and conditions such as lupus and arthritis but is not technically approved by the FDA for COVID-19.

The drug, he said, opens a channel for the zinc to enter the cell and block virus replication.

Because the drug is on the market, doctors can use it for off-label purposes.

A man in Arizona died after taking a similar drug, chloroquine phosphate, in an apparent attempt to self-medicate.

The man did not take the pharmaceutical version of the drug, but a version used at aquariums to clean fish tanks.

MORE: Chloroquine shortage concerns mount as Trump touts malaria drug as possible COVID-19 treatment.

https://abc7.com/coronavirus-drug-covid-19-malaria-hydroxychloroquine/6079864/

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