Australia's health authority warns against hydroxychloroquine

[struggle4progress]

1. We don't know yet if hydroxychloroquine can treat COVID-19

ANDRÉ PICARD
PUBLISHED 4 HOURS AGO

... The evidence of benefit in patients is mostly anecdotal, based on highly publicized but scientifically weak studies. Controversial microbiologist Didier Raoult has made wild claims about the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine but his study, published in the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, is little more than anecdotal.

Similarly, Vladimir Zelenko, a small-town doctor in New York State, has gained internet fame promoting a cocktail of three drugs – hydroxychloroquine, the antibiotic azithromycin and zinc sulphate. There is no real evidence for claims that he has cured hundreds of cases of COVID-19, but that hasn’t stopped Mr. Trump from promoting the regimen ...

... hydroxychloroquine .. can cause significant adverse events, including heart arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), both of which can be fatal; it can also have neuropsychiatric effects such as agitation, confusion, hallucinations and paranoia.

Just as importantly, patients who need these drugs for continuing treatment of conditions such as lupus are seeing supplies sapped and their lives put at risk by speculators and hoarders ...

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-we-dont-know-yet-if-hydroxychloroquine-can-treat-covid-19-and-trump/