Analysis reveals heart-related side effects of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine
(Wiley) As the antimalarial drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have drawn attention as potential therapies for COVID-19 and are being widely used off-label, it's now more important than ever to have a thorough assessment of the safety of these medications. A recent analysis published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology provides new insights. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - September 23, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
COVID-19: Analysis reveals heart-related side effects of hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine
In the analysis of real-world data from the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Events Reporting System, a global database of post-marketing safety reports, hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine were associated with higher rates of various cardiovascular problems, including life-threatening heart rhythm events, heart failure, and damage to the heart muscle itself (termed cardiomyopathy). (Source: The Economic Times)
Source: The Economic Times - September 22, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
The Lancet changes editorial policy after hydroxychloroquine Covid study retraction
New policy comes after serious quality control questions were raised about the data relied on by a study in the medical journalOne of the world ’s leading medical journals, the Lancet, has reformed its editorial policies following a shocking case of apparent research misconduct involving the study of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for Covid-19.In May, the Lancet published a peer-reviewed study about the controversial drug hydroxychloroquine, which concluded Covid-19 patients who received the drug were dying at higher rates and experiencing more heart-related complications than other virus patients.Continue reading... ...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - September 22, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Melissa Davey Tags: Coronavirus outbreak Medical research Infectious diseases Microbiology Health Source Type: news
We Need a COVID-19 Vaccine. We Also Need Transparency About Its Development
The authorization of an effective vaccine will mark perhaps the biggest turning point in the battle against coronavirus, but only if enough people are willing to get vaccinated. There have been substantial declines in public willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19, despite immense, unprecedented public investments in vaccine development. In one survey, barely half of Americans said they would get the vaccine as soon as it was available, numbers that will undermine the benefits of even a highly effective vaccine.
It is no mystery why trust in a potential vaccine has plummeted. Operation Warp Speed, the Trump Administ...
Source: TIME: Health - September 18, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Dr. Ashish K. Jha Tags: Uncategorized COVID-19 Source Type: news
COVID-19 prevention and treatment: A critical analysis of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine clinical pharmacology, PLOS Medicine
Review states large RCTs with appropriate monitoring are required to determine if chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have preventive or treatment efficacy in COVID-19 and acceptable safety; and their use outside of clinical trials is not justified at this time. (Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH))
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - September 16, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine in COVID-19 Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine in COVID-19
How often are rheumatologists prescribing hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for COVID-19 prophylaxis or treatment? A new survey provides insight.Journal of Clinical Rheumatology (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - September 15, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Rheumatology Journal Article Source Type: news
Lawmakers Concerned About Political Meddling at CDC
In a September 14, 2020 letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairwoman Diana DeGette (D-CO) expressed concerns about political interference at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawmakers have called for a briefing with Secretary Azar to address these concerns.
The letter was in response to reports from Politico that the politically appointed HHS spokesperson, Michael Caputo, and his aides demanded and received the right to revi...
Source: Public Policy Reports - September 14, 2020 Category: Biology Authors: AIBS Source Type: news
Re-purposed hydroxychloroquine being used for mild, moderate COVID-19 cases: Harsh Vardhan
Re-purposed hydroxychloroquine is being used for mild but high risk and moderate COVID-19 cases, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. (Source: The Economic Times)
Source: The Economic Times - September 14, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
The Case For Safer Emergency Use Authorizations
There needs to be effective treatments and vaccines available to stop the spread of this virus. The failures like hydroxychloroquine show that the EUA process must be robust enough that the authorized products do not harm the public or entrench public distrust of medicine. (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)
Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News - September 9, 2020 Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: William A. Haseltine, Contributor Tags: Healthcare /healthcare Innovation /innovation business pharma & Source Type: news
Increase Seen in Hydroxychloroquine Rx by Nonroutine Specialists
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 9, 2020 -- In March 2020, compared with March 2019, there was an 80-fold increase in new prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine by specialists who did not typically prescribe these medications, according to research published in the... (Source: Drugs.com - Pharma News)
Source: Drugs.com - Pharma News - September 9, 2020 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news
Deprescribing Guidance for Hydroxychloroquine Drug Interactions Deprescribing Guidance for Hydroxychloroquine Drug Interactions
This study assessed the burden of potentially inappropriate medications that could be deprescribed if necessary to initiate treatment with hydroxychloroquine or other potential COVID-19 therapies.Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - September 7, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Internal Medicine Journal Article Source Type: news
Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine Prescribing Patterns by Provider Specialty Following Initial Reports of Potential Benefit for COVID-19 Treatment - United States, January-June 2020
This report describes prescribing patterns for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine based on provider specialty following initial reports of treatment benefits for COVID-19. (Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)
Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report - September 3, 2020 Category: American Health Tags: MMWR Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease 2019 Source Type: news
More about chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, CEBM (updated 30th August 2020)
VERDICT
The hypothesis that the 4-aminoquinolines chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine may be beneficial in the treatment of COVID-19 is a weak one, based on poor mechanistic reasoning and inconsistent results of studies in vitro, in laboratory animals, and in humans.
It is likely that even if chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are effective in COVID-19, the beneficial effects will be small.
The risks of adverse reactions to these drugs may be increased in patients who are acutely ill with severe COVID-19, in many of whom high doses are being used.
Macrolide antibacterial drugs, such as azithromycin, clarithromycin, ery...
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - September 2, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Improving FDA's COVID-19 vaccine authorization and approval process
On March 28, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) exercised its Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) authority to allow the use of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19. On June 15, after a number of studies failed to find positive effects, the agency revoked this authorization. This chain of events raises questions about the speed, rigor and potential politicization of the authorization process. These actions also may have hurt the FDA's credibility and the public's trust in the agency, which could decrease the public's confidence in and adoption of eventual COVID-19 vaccines. (Source: World Pharma News)
Source: World Pharma News - August 31, 2020 Category: Pharmaceuticals Tags: Featured Research Research and Development Source Type: news
Improving FDA's COVID-19 vaccine authorization and approval process
(Dartmouth College) On March 28, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) exercised its Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) authority to allow the use of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19, and on June 15, the agency revoked this authorization. In JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, a research team proposes reforms that the FDA could implement to improve the EUA process and drug approvals during public health crises, which could increase the FDA's credibility and the public's trust in it. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - August 31, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
