4 more state pharmacy boards join Ohio in curbing prescriptions for experimental COVID-19 drugs

Becker Hospital Review ^ | March 25, 2020 | Maia Anderson

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Four more state pharmacy boards have followed Ohio's lead and taken steps to block pharmacists from excessively dispensing two drugs touted as possible COVID-19 treatments, as both drugs are already in shortage.

Utah, Idaho, Texas and Nevada have all moved to block unnecessary prescriptions of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, both designed to treat malaria but commonly used to treat autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Both drugs have been shown to be effective in slowing the effects of COVID-19 in preliminary trials, but there is no evidence they treat the virus. Physicians were found to be writing prescriptions for themselves and their families to stockpile the drugs, and both are already in shortage.

Utah is now drafting regulations to limit the prescribing of both drugs to make sure they're available for patients who need them to treat chronic diseases, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.

Texas implemented new guidelines for the drugs to require a written diagnosis "consistent with the evidence for its use" from the prescriber and limited prescriptions to a 14-day supply, according to The New York Times. The rules don't apply to patients already taking the drugs for chronic conditions. Texas also limited prescriptions of the antibiotic azithromycin and another malaria drug, mefloquine, according to the Times.

"It seems like people are trying to start hoarding these medications just like they've been hoarding toilet paper and water​," Allison Benz, executive director of the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, told KXAN, an NBC affiliate in Austin, Texas.

Nevada's rules make it clear that the drugs can only be used for the treatment and not the prevention of COVID-19, the Times reported.

Idaho implemented what it calls "Temporary Rule 704," which prohibits dispensing of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine unless there is an official COVID-19 diagnosis, according to KIVI-TV, an ABC affiliate in Boise, Idaho. It also limits prescriptions to a 14-day supply and limits refills.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Our Bay Area California store shelves are STILL empty of paper towels, toilet tissue, sanitizing wipes, and hand sanitizer. I think these orders are prudent to prevent instantaneous hoarding of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine.

I think the INTENT of the Nevada rule is to prevent hoarding, but the summary put out by "Nevada Health Response" seems to indicate otherwise. It says "The regulation prohibits the prescribing and dispensing chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for a COVID-19 diagnosis..." Does that mean it cannot be prescribed for patients who have been diagnosed with COVID? Or does it mean that it cannot be used as part of the diagnostic effort? Whoever wrote that did a very poor job. I suspect the actual order may be better written. I did a quick search, but cannot find the actual order signed by the Nevada governor.

[eartick]

The Texas approach sounds fine. Get a prescription, limit to the disease and prevent hoarding

[WildHighlander57]

Thanks for posting; that article has clearer info.

[alancarp]

"there is no evidence they treat the virus. Physicians were found to be writing prescriptions for themselves and their families to stockpile the drugs"

No, there's no evidence whatsoever that they're a treatment for the virus, but DOCTORS are grabbing the stuff like snack foods at a party for no reason whatsoever... other than the fact that they might be among the most susceptible to getting sick from it.

[dp0622]

Well since Texas is in there, it makes me think there’s a valid reason for doing these things.

I’m not defending blue state governors, believe me. I live under one and know how awful they are.

But lately attacks on decisions were too soon and several days later red state governors did the same things that blues did a little earlier.

It’s a play it by ear situation I guess.

But deblasio describing in detail the horrific last hours of a Coronavirus patient...he should burn in hell for that

I know he’s not a governor but he IS an idiot and terrifying people for your socialist agenda or JUST because you’re so unfit for office that you panic at trouble is so wrong!!

Rudy we would rather have you even if you are only 40 percent of what you were

[rktman]

More like a slap at PDJT for saying it COULD help in some cases. Gov steve sissypants can’t abide that.

[Signalman]

Nevada Governor Bans HCQ for ChinaVirus
(video. The Still Report).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLOi4I2mJLI

[null and void]

Three republican governors have decided to commit political suicide and join Nevada's democrat governor in preventing "their" citizens from using a cheap, proven and effective drug against a potentially fatal disease?

Smart move, guys...

[silverleaf]

Scott Adams blows up the system, explains how to talk to your doctor to get the Trump pills

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3828181/posts

[reasonisfaith]

There is evidence they treat the virus.

[CharlesWayneCT]

He should feel responsible, since on March 2nd, long after we knew how bad this was, and after we knew about the Rochelle spread, he was urging people in new york city to go out to bars, restaurants, and shows, and refused to restrict the subway, or ask people to consider staggered work hours.

[TexasGator]

“No, there’s no evidence whatsoever that they’re a treatment for the virus, “

Did you check with our FIRST patient?

[Wuli]

“Both drugs have been shown to be effective in slowing the effects of COVID-19 in preliminary trials, but there is no evidence they treat the virus.”

SO WHAT? Most “cures” of URI illnesses from all the flu-like viruses do not directly attack the virus. They help remove the illness symptoms the virus causes, strengthening the patient, weakening the reach of the virus and helping the patients own immune system with IT’S attack on the virus. Making the patient stronger for the patient’s own system to attack a pathogen is part of many “cures” that work indirectly.

Dying patients often can’t wait for the miracle cures and yet can live to fight a diseases if they are relieved of the worst symptoms.

A 90 year old woman in the Washington State nursing home was infected by Cov-19, nearly died and is now a recovered patient who tests negative for Cov-19. Did she get some new miracle “cure” directed specifically at Cov-19? No.

[Alcibiades]

I’m guessing they don’t want a lot of rich elites suddenly developing a mild case of arthritis and needing prescription. Similar to how a number of sports figures and celebrities jumped to the front of the line on testing. Some didn’t even have symptoms.

[dp0622]

Agreed.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Precisely.

This could be THE thing that keeps seriously ill patients off of respirators. If they can be sent home after a few days instead of being kept on life support we can avert the crashing of our hospitals (which is the entire reason for all of this in the first place).

Got to ensure the supply to do that remains available.

[Jeff Chandler]

[reasonisfaith]

Speaking of evidence, the actions of these bureaucrats is evidence of how politics displaces science.

There are hundreds of drugs prescribed off label, all the time.

These pharmacy boards are not motivated by anything having to do with science.

[wastedyears]

I can understand a shortage. Anything else is inhumane and wanting people to die.

[RideForever]

Are state pharmacy boards being held up by the insurrectionists in the CDC failing to proceed with prescribing a treatment that can’t satisfy a double-blind test by the CDC because up to 1/2 of the test group might die?

Tie that to the anecdotal exercise of over 300 cases in upstate NY, and you see the effect of Obama holdovers at the CDC and DOJ in their insurrectionist Deep State policies.