The Good and Bad of Chloroquine for Treating Novel Coronavirus
Posted on 24 Mar 2020; 03:00 AM IST. Last Updated 24 Mar 2020; 03:00 AM IST.Summary: Chloroquine acquired new fame, as a candidate drug for Novel Coronavirus (covid-19). President Trump has become emotional about the drug, and in view of the prevailing pandemic, he cannot be blamed for his convictions. At the same time, the medicine man Dr. Fauci, cannot be blamed for not prescribing the drug for the treatment of Novel coronavirus (covid-19). Chloroquine is a complicated drug, and is probably the only drug against malaria, and must be taken only on a physician's advice.
All Chloroquine drugs are toxic, and must be taken only on a physician's advice. The dosage of these drugs is usually calibrated by the physician, for the specific individual, taking the drug. Further, all chloroquine drugs have Cardiovascular risks, and can cause sudden death, when not properly administered. The details of chloroquine toxicity are available at this link.
Chloroquine tablets are extremely cheap, and are abundantly available. President Trump cannot be blamed for becoming emotional, about this drug, and his genuine concern to save lives, is praise worthy. At the same time, we cannot blame the USA medicine man, Dr. Fauci either, because it is not an easy task to repurpose a drug.
Chloroquine is a good drug for malaria, but the dosage at which chloroquine effectively destroys the novel coronavirus (covid-19), is not established. What Dr. Fauci is trying to tell us, is that "there is no scientific study to prove the efficacy of chloroquine, at safe dosages".
China did use chloroquine as a remedy, but the clinical trial data is not available, to make a ruling. At mild dosages, chloroquine "may" work as a preventive medicine, and not as a drug, meant for cure. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recommended Hydroxy-Chloroquine as a prophylaxis(preventive) for Healthcare workers. The details of the notification are available at this link.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has selected Chloroquine as a candidate drug, for conducting drug trials against the Novel Coronavirus. The real merit of chloroquine treatment, would be known only after this study is complete.