Factbox: U.S. hospitals differ on best use of Hydroxychloroquine for Coronavirus

Reuters ^ | 04/18/2020

[SeekAndFind]

Major hospitals in New York, Louisiana and other areas hit hardest by the coronavirus outbreak are routinely using hydroxychloroquine on patients hospitalized with COVID-19, though robust evidence on whether it works is weeks, if not months, away.Hydroxychloroquine is a treatment for malaria and autoimmune diseases in use since the 1950’s. The related drug chloroquine has been in use even longer, but is considered to be less safe. The drugs can have serious side effects, including vision loss, heart problems or even death, if used incorrectly. Below are examples of how some hospitals are using the therapy:

NORTHWELL HEALTH, NEW YORK

The 23-hospital healthcare system began in late March to use hydroxychloroquine routinely in patients admitted with the sometimes deadly respiratory illness caused by the virus, according to Dr. Kevin Tracey, chief executive of Northwell’s research arm. This was based on preliminary data that “it may be beneficial,” said Chief Pharmacy Officer Onisis Stefas. Hydroxychloroquine is given to patients who have “really no other options,” and have not qualified for clinical trials of other potential coronavirus treatments, he said. Northwell also allows doctors to prescribe it in conjunction with the antibiotic azithromycin on a case by case basis, but that is not standard of care.

NYU LANGONE HEALTH, NEW YORK

NYU has been giving the drug to patients since early March, according to Dr. Michael Belmont, a rheumatologist. Some doctors at NYU are also prescribing azithromycin in combination with hydroxychloroquine, although Belmont said the medical literature he has seen is “insufficient to draw an inference that the combination is especially effective.”

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES MEDICAL CENTER

UCLA has been advising doctors since mid-March to consider hydroxychloroquine for seriously ill COVID-19 patients. “Our recommendation is based on limiting usage, allowing it as a Hail Mary-type treatment for patients

[chopperk]

Cuomo should be prosecuted for murder by Fiat for outlawing the sale of HCQ. Thousands could have been treated with the drug and be alive today.

[rktman]

What the-——Nobody told me. :-) Any wonder I can stand ‘actuarial tables’?

[Leep]

Seems like a lot of doctors are careful to prescribe meds....yet i run into people all the time on 15-20 different prescription meds?

[gas_dr]

Look out. You will be excoriated for Tijuana’s. Never mind I have not administered zinc and my patients who are critically ill have all recovered. But now the usual gang will tell me I am a : hack, not a real doctor, not trustworthy, an idiot with my own agenda.

Let the good times roll.