hydroxychloroquine

Photo by Joegoauk Goa

A chloroquine study investigating its effects in treating the COVID-19 coronavirus in Brazil has been postponed for safety reasons.

It was discovered that taking a higher dose of the drug made some patients develop irregular heart rates that increased their risk of a fatal heart arrhythmia.

Photo by Joegoauk Goa

The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) has said there has been an increase in people abusing the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, after being touted by President Donald Trump as a coronavirus treatment.

Since Trump first mentioned the drug on 19 March, there have been 76 cases of hydroxychloroquine abuse compared to 35 during this same period last year. 77% of these cases were non-toxic meaning most patients taking the drug inappropriately were not poisoned. 

Photo by Gage Skidmore

Critics are arguing that President Donald Trump is touting the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment because he has financial links to manufacturers of the drug.

The New York Times reported that each of Trump’s three family trusts had investments in a Dodge & Cox mutual fund. This type of fund is a portfolio that pools together money from several investors and invests the capital across various assets like stocks and bonds.

Photo by Gage Skidmore

President Trump continues to push the drug hydroxychloroquine as a potential coronavirus treatment despite a lack of evidence for its effectiveness.

In a recent press conference, the President said: “I’m not looking at it one way or another. But we want to get out of this. If it does work, it would be a shame if we didn’t do it early. What do I know? I’m not a doctor. But I have common sense. The FDA feels good about it, as you know, they approved it.”