Potential Coronavirus Treatment Could Lead To Shortage Of Drug For Lupus Patients

SUTTON (CBS) — President Trump has been dropping the names of several medications being tested to treat COVID-19. But one of them — hydroxychloroquine — is commonly used to treat lupus symptoms. With new recognition of the drug, lupus patients are worried they may lose access to a drug they rely on. When Cheryl Hamel, a lupus patient from Sutton, called her pharmacy Sunday morning to get the medication she takes to manage her lupus symptoms, she was surprised by what the pharmacist told her. “They told me it was too soon to get it refilled, and what they had at the moment was being saved for COVID patients. And they said there is a shortage due to manufacturing,” she said. Hamel is now worried that her pharmacy will no longer release the drug to her despite the fact that she’s taken the drug regularly for a long time. “I thought that, of course, patients who are on ventilators in the ICU, of course they are the top priority,” she said. “But it made me feel like ‘Okay, it’s not toilet paper were hoarding anymore. It’s medications.” If manufacturing of the drug is not ramped up to meet demand, Hamel said, she’s afraid patients like her will simply have to go without. That could have a very negative impact on her life. “The hydroxychloroquine was a real game changer in terms of managing my symptoms of the lupus,” she said. “So without it, the other options are immunosuppression ...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Boston News Health Syndicated CBSN Boston Syndicated Local Coronavirus Health News Sutton News Source Type: news