Posted on 06/16/2020 7:01:52 AM PDT by Red Badger
Dexamethasone, a cheap and widely used steroid, has become the first drug shown to be able to save lives among COVID-19 patients in what scientists hailed as a “major breakthrough”.
Results of trials announced on Tuesday showed dexamethasone, which is used to reduce inflammation in other diseases, reduced death rates by around a third among the most severely ill COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital.
The results suggest the drug should immediately become standard care in patients with severe cases of the pandemic disease, said the researchers who led the trials.
“This is a result that shows that if patients who have COVID-19 and are on ventilators or are on oxygen are given dexamethasone, it will save lives, and it will do so at a remarkably low cost,” said Martin Landray, an Oxford University professor co-leading the trial, known as the RECOVERY trial.
“It’s going to be very hard for any drug really to replace this, given that for less than 50 pounds ($63.26), you can treat eight patients and save a life,” he told reporters in an online briefing.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
For the love of God, Mr. President, PLEASE don’t endorse this medication.
Great news for people on respirators or even just supplemental oxygen. First treatment that appears to have positive effects on some of the very ill.
LOL!
Its amazing to me — touted as a new breakthrough, we have used steroids in the treatment of ARDS for a long time (over 20 years). Those who I have treated have received this medication — this is clearly something most intensivists know.
The only interesting thing is that using decadron appears to be better than hyrodcortisone or solumedrol.
Sad but true. A reflection of how much the media is infected with TDS.
I’m sticking with Trump’s recommendation if it can still be found!
I dunno...is it Trump approved? :D
The elderly are dying due to the cytokine reaction to the virus, the extreme inflammation causes a rush of fluid into the lungs causing pulmonary edema.
Naturally, steroids have been found effective for decades in the treatment for this.
The article sounds like they’ve invented a new drug.
the hydroxychloroquine might be equally as effective in higher doses than what is given.
Seems like using that AND Albuterol would be perfect.................
It’s not an either-or. The dexamethasone is what you use to reduce respiratory inflammation if the hydroxychloroquine+zinc fails to keep the virus out of the lung tissue.
From what I heard, it reduces deaths by 35% for those on ventilators, 20% for those needing some O2, and no effect for other cases. So, not a general purpose solution, but still good news.
I have come to the conclusion that HCQ with zinc is an excellent prophylaxis
It is not a great treatment. IL-6 inhibitors, steroids, and heparinization seems to be the ticket for those in extremis.
I remain amazed that a disease so serious can be cured by so many different products.
Is it that serious or is it curing itself over time?
Of course it would.
it is a standard ICU med.
Not understanding why it wasnt used before
Unless this is drama fake news.
Hydroxychloroquine appears to be effect in the early stages, and as a prophylactic. This drug appears to be effective in the later stages.
Neither one promises huge profits, so expect this one to be trashed in the media, too.
Yes, I don’t know why this is coming to light now, unless there is finally enough data to justify the results.
It’s been used since early on by most well trained Intensivists. We are still waiting for ExDemom to tell us that she approves and give us the seal of approval. However since it takes her by her own admission 2 hours to compose a post it may be a while
*sigh*
AMEN!!!!
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