New York clinical trial testing heartburn medication as coronavirus treatment

NY Post ^ | 4/26/20 | By Carl Campanile and Tamar Lapin,

[CaptainK]

A clinical trial is underway at major New York hospitals to test the efficacy of heartburn medication, in combination with the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine, on coronavirus patients, The Post has learned.

More than 150 people so far are taking part in the study, which began earlier this month and is being conducted by the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, the research arm of Northwell Health, according to a spokesman for the hospital system.

Researchers are trying to find out whether famotidine — the active compound in the over-the-counter heartburn drug Pepcid — acts as an inhibitor of COVID-19, similar to the way certain drugs block the replication of HIV/AIDS.

Patients in the study are being given the heartburn drug intravenously along with hydroxychloroquine at Northwell’s North Shore University Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center and Lenox Hill Hospital, said David Battinelli, vice president and chief medical officer of Northwell.

[liberalh8ter]

If I get this horrible virus, I want Hydroxychloroquine, Zithromax, Zinc, Remdesivir, Nicotine patches and heartburn medication....all at the same time.

[HollyB]

I agree.

[Wuli]

The problems with Pepsid arise not just because of certain side effects, but because it is used as a standard recurring medication; accumulating its side effects.

If used as a medication fighting the effects of the Wuhan Virus, the period of it’s use, and it’s side effects, would be short term and likely not permanent. Many medications with some bad side effects do get used, knowing that, when their use might be a critical need and temporary.

[Bob434]

yes they checked me for that- also for hormone imbalances- checked out the thyroid itself too- all came back normal

[Bob434]

thanks for the links to that article will read it today-

I’ve tried taking it every other day- i can’t miss a day- after about 6-7 days or so my stomach starts to hurt too much- even one a day is a bit too little i think, but it’s helped me be mostly pain free- whatever i’ve got has come on slowly- I probably should request the readings on it for the last couple of years- I hope it’s not from the ppi- don’t know what I’ll do if it is- maybe there is an antacid that works differently- i could try- over the counter stuff though doesn’t work except on an attack- need something to prevent the acid pain in the first place

[HollyB]

Ok good. My parathyroid has been between 95 to 142 for 3 years. The cause of primary hyper parathyroid is due to an adenoma on it. I need a new scan. The last one I had - it didn’t show up. They aren’t going to cut my neck open and search for it. In the mean time, I’m quite certain it’s causing quite a bit of havoc.

I’d never heard of parathyroid issues before mine become a problem. People always talk about thyroid problems. But, not the little glands within.

[Flaming Conservative]

I’ve taken 40mg of pepcid at bedtime for YEARS, with no side effects. And I have an anxiety disorder (long before the need for pepcid). The people on the forum your link goes to all pretty much sound like panic disorder patients. My mother had panic disorder. Can’t count the times my brother had to take her to the ER because she was CERTAIN she was having a heart attack. Her doctor finally put her on xanax. Problem solved. BTW, she never took pepcid.

[Bob434]

yep- not well known- my doc suggested possible parathyroid problem because of a muscles issue I’m having the symptoms I’m having do tend to look like thyroid or parathyroid symptoms- (weakness, thermal regulation problem- hot cold for no reason- exhaustion, shaky- tired all the time- brain fog etc- they don’t know what’s going on- but suggested perhaps parathyroid since thyroid was fine)

Hated hated hated the test for parathyroid- can’t stand anything on my neck and had to lay there and endure 20 minutes of the ultrasound right where i can’t stand it most- the woman doing the test commented after “Had you been strangled in a past life?” lol-

anyway- they didn’t find anything abnormal- that was a couple of years ago- not going back for another test- they did TWO on me- Eyuck- that’s enough-

I actually was hoping it would be either thyroid or parathyroid- as they are fairly easily treatable, and people have complete turn around after treatment- but we’re still looking for answers unfortunately- I’m thinking it might be tick related- Babesia possibly- just gotta wait till this coronavirus junk is over with before i will go back to see about possible tick infection- (Babesia can also cause kidney damage too)

[HollyB]

Sometimes (like in my case) the adenoma hides. I actually had CT with radiation that would light up. I didn’t have the ultra sound.

Now did you have the PTH levels checked? If so, how were the numbers. Keep in mind, there’s secondary PTH that is corrected via Vitamin D.

[Bob434]

my D levels were really low (it was in winter when i had the test)- i was at 8- supposed to be around 30 i guess- took a few pills and got it right up to normal- i keep it pretty normal now as best i can-

I don’t remember if i had PTH done- they ran a number of things-

I’ve had a bunch of CT scans- I mean a lot- way too many really- but I’ll ask about that- I hate getting them now though just because of the risk associated with them if one gets too many-

[Flaming Conservative]

My first husband was put on prilosec many years ago, when it was new. The directions clearly stated, “not to be used more than 6 weeks”. Don’t know if he still takes it, or if it still contains that warning, but as far as I know, he doesn’t have renal issues.
My cousin was put on it for interstitial cystitis! Her internist is a brilliant diagnostician, and at her first visit, after her exam, he asked her if she had any symptoms of any kind, pain, etc. She denied any symptoms but one -—she said her head often itched like crazy. No pain or any bladder symptoms whatsoever. Based on the itching, he diagnosed interstitial cystitis, and prescribed prilosec for two or three weeks. She took the medication, during which she said she felt better than she had ever felt in her life. The itching stopped, and that was the end of it. I don’t know how many interstitial cystitis patients have head itching as a symptom, but it was a symptom in her case, and the prilosec took care of it.

[Flaming Conservative]

I’ve taken pepcid, 40 mg daily for over a decade. My labs are always perfect, and I have well controlled diabetes, which can also cause renal dysfunction. It works better than prilosec or prevacid ever did (they did NOTHING). I tried zantac a couple of times; made me so dizzy, I’d never take it again. The other over the counter med for stomach problems was cimetadine, sold under the brand name Tagamet. It was found, after decades, to be carcinogenic.

[wastedyears]

For me, the Protonix was to protect my stomach while I took horse pill-sized ibuprofin. That and generic Colcrys were used as anti-inflammatory for my heart.

[HollyB]

Please ask if you had the PTH blood test done. My leaning is yes and your pth was elevated and that’s why they did the ULtra sound. . But, you won’t know for sure until you ask.

Please read up on secondary pth ok. Your very low Vit D numbers may indicate. Mine goes low in the winter. But never that low. again only your dr knows. Also, you can have primary pth (adenoma) but the adenoma/s are very hard to see. I need to get rescanned to see if it’s finally visible so they can take it out. But, haven’t yet for similar reasons As you and I’m doctor’ed out.

Honestly, It sounds like you have several pth symptoms by your earlier description. But, stones the top one. If you get a chance, you should read up on the function of the pth the symptoms of when it’s elevated.

[Bob434]

[[Honestly, It sounds like you have several pth symptoms by your earlier description.]]

Yup- that’s what we thought too- the temperature regulation issue was one that strongly suggested it too- I’ll definitely check with the Doc o n that test- probably had it. but can’t hurt to ask-

[[but the adenoma/s are very hard to see.]]

Yep- i think that’s why they did the second ultrasound not too long after the first one- I also read they can be hard to detect- Would be nice to figure out what’s going on with something that is treatable- some of he conditions that have similar symptoms can’t be treated- hopefully it’s not oen of them- been a long time- 18 years now-

[HollyB]

I’m not familiar with temperature issues being a parathyroid issue. I thought that was thyroid.

The problem with long term parathyroid problems is that calcium is running amok inside your body. 18 years is very much long term. Mine have been elevated since late 2016 and am hoping that’s why I feel so cruddy. Because - it’s treatable. If we can see it to treat it lol.

[Bob434]

oops- yup- you’re right- thyroid- they did test me for that too- no issues- that was one of the things they asked me right off- problem is though- a couple of things can cause temperature issues- so it’s hard to tell- gotta rule things out basically- There was a couple of symptoms that go along with thyroid that i didn’t have- so i wasn’t thinking they would find that- Fibro either- but they say i have that- I think they just got fed up with trying to find what it could be- I don’t have the tender points that are supposed to go along with fibro (or trigger points- can’t remember which now)

I dunno- it’s exhausting- discouraging-

[Yardstick]

I know someone who had a fairly dramatic turnaround when their parathyroid problem was finally diagnosed and treated (surgery to remove an enlarged node). It had eluded diagnosis for years, causing extreme exhaustion.

[HollyB]

You need an Endocrinologist and perhaps even a rheumatologist to help you get to the bottom of things.
My Neuro ran a bunch of tests related to auto immune/rheumatology etc disorders. I have Neurapathy too so, he was ruling things out related to the Neurapathy -just in case it wasn’t chemo induced.

[HollyB]

It’s Encouraging to read your post. I want it to be me too. Just got to get myself back to the endo for another CT scan. But, I’m really tired of drs appointments.