Promoting hydroxychloroquine is Trump's risk-free gambit to be a hero

[andym]

Last edited Tue Apr 7, 2020, 12:38 AM - Edit history (1)

At the moment, we do not know if it has clinical efficacy against Covid-19. But that doesn't matter to Trump, if it does work he is going to position himself as the hero of Covid-19, knowing more than the experts. You will hear about his leadership on this drug every day during the fall campaign. If it doesn't work it will never be mentioned again. So what is the risk for him? Nil. If a few people suffer from side effects it will be caveat emptor. The drugs safety profile is well understood, with its effects on cardiac arrhythmia probably being the most worrisome for older patients.

But could it work? Yes, that is still to be determined.

Dr. Fauci is right to call the evidence in its favor anecdotal at the moment. Perhaps the strongest evidence in its favor is that it blocks viral replication in cultured cells and the uncontrolled trials from France and China. The evidence was strong enough for Andrew Cuomo to independently of Trump procure enough doses for 4000 Covid-19 patients and make them available for the most serious cases last month. Also, NYU Medical school is conducting a trial with funding from the Gates Foundation to determine if it can be used prophylactically to prevent infections. It will take a few months at least for the latter trial to draw any valid conclusions.

He may even use any real study that shows any efficacy as an excuse to end the emergency declaration on April 30 or earlier.

Bottom line is that Trump risks nothing and has everything to gain with his promotion of hydroxychloroquine.

[msongs]

1. pretty much, like he is the savior because of the drug. result unproveable nt

[elleng]

2. Right, and Dr. Murtha, in Town Hall call with V.P. Biden,

mentioned that hydroxychloroquine is being used.

[procon]

3. He must have investments in the drug company.

Given Trump's love of money, nothing else explains his OCD focus on this drug conspiracy theory.

[andym]

4. I don't know-- the thing is that this is a generic off-patent drug that goes for pennies a pill

So it is not going to be a particularly big money maker.

[msongs]

8. will be if one corners the market and gets a biddidng war going...like fEMA does nt

[procon]

23. Remember how that Pharma Bro guy jacked up the

price on some drug from something like $13 to over $700 per pill. Trump would not hesitate to screw over sick folks to make a buck.

[SoonerPride]

5. A reporter needs to ask why isn't it this miracle drug

Already working?
Doctors all over the world have been trying it and yet thousands are still dying.
It’s not like they haven’t heard him pimping this Hail Mary to save his re-election and they are indeed trying this and ANYTHING else to save lives

So President dumbfuck why isn’t it working?

Hmmmm?

[andym]

6. That's a good question

He would probably answer that it is working and point to the flawed trials. So the question would not have the intended effect.

If I had to guess, I suspect if it works, it will work best when given early in the infection like tamiflu does for influenza. Studies like that will require large numbers, as 98-99% of people will recover from Covid-19 anyway. So real effectiveness will not be known for weeks if not months.

[gratuitous]

7. "Risk-free" unless, of course, you have lupus and need to take hydroxychloroquine

Because you KNOW that Baron von Munchfuck is going to trigger a run on hydroxychloroquine, and people who actually need it will get shut out.

[Hoyt]

11. Doctors have to prescribe it, so some must think Fauci, etc., are being over cautious.

[Wednesdays]

27. There's already a supply problem

I take it on a continual basis for my arthritis. I went to my pharmacy (a hospital pharmacy) for a refill on Friday, and they gave me only HALF a refill.

[forthemiddle]

28. Will you die without it?

Or just suffer more pain?

I am in no way trying to downplay your suffering, I am just trying to figure out the overall effects of having the inevitable availability problem.

Outside malaria, is this a lifesaving medication, or a symptom reliever?

I am sorry for whatever suffering you may endure.

[Hoyt]

9. Exactly. And we are playing right into it.

There’s enough evidence that I’d take it if hospitalize with poor prognosis and no alternative treatment.

Whatever you think of it, a number of docs are prescribing it here and in other countries. It appears India is no longer shipping because it has been recommended by authorities there. The recommendation may be based on little evidence, but they aren’t letting it go.

If it proves worthless, trump can point to people on ventilators who survived after treatment, and he’ll say there’s nothing wrong with giving people hope, when all looks lost.

If it proves helpful, alone or in combination, he’ll look like a great leader who bullied the over cautious doctors. He’ll claim Democrats bashed him for political reasons.

If trump personally develops a cure and vaccine in his bathroom, I wouldn’t vote for him for tons of reasons. But, some folks will anoint him king. We need to be careful.

[andym]

12. Agree. NT.

[rockfordfile]

19. you're the one playing into it

"There’s enough evidence that I’d take it if hospitalize"

[Hoyt]

25. Hospitalized with poor prognosis and no alternatives. Comprehend much?

[forthemiddle]

29. On the other side

It sounds like you are saying no one should accept this treatment because that plays into Trumps hands.

I have no problem saying that if I get the virus I will ask for this treatment. Just as I will for the plasma antibodies treatment now being tested. I will be hoping and praying for anything that shows promise, even if Trump supports it. Cuomo also ordered the medication for New York, so I am following his lead, not Trumps.

And no I don’t think it’s a miracle cure, but I do recognize that some small studies show promise, and at this time hope is all we have.

[sarcasmo]

10. Rudy promoting hyroxychloroquine on Twitter for three weeks means they are both invested.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

13. Trump said "Chloroquine, some people say hydroxy chloroquine'

Means nothing. Just that I remember him sounding very stupid when he said that .

[Doodley]

14. Good point. It's like when Trump said hot weather will stop the spread. It's not proven, but should

it happen, he will take full credit.

[andym]

16. Yes indeed.

Hot weather will likely slow the virus, based on other coronaviruses and SARS. Trump will be taking full credit-- even though his "by April" quote was obviously incorrect.

[andym]

15. The other reason to promote it is to use any reported efficacy to end his emergency declaration

on April 30. He needs an excuse and this could be it!

[rockfordfile]

21. Trump is already guilty for the outbreak level

[Baked Potato]

17. He is like a raptor, clever, animalistic.

Always in self preservation mode.

[andym]

18. He's the archetype or a primal leader without empathy who will stop at nothing

to further himself, using self-promotion, lies, bullying and gaslighting as needed.

[rockfordfile]

20. hahahahhaha

you think trumptrash is clever? stay away from fox news.

[Baked Potato]

31. Lol, Fox News, go find some of my OPs and get informed

before you go off on me.

[Yavin4]

22. Trump is trying to win the narrative instead of leading.

We won't know for months whether this drug is actually effective or not. In the meantime, hospitals still need equipment and relief. The economy is shut down. We don't have enough tests, etc.

Trump has failed and continues to fail because he's not even trying to lead. He just wants a positive narrative no matter where it is.

[andym]

24. "Winning the narrative"-- that's ALL Trump ever tries to do!

You are correct. When it came to the virus that is why so many people will die needlessly. He valued winning the story over doing the right thing.

[Iliyah]

26. It's physiological treament for shithole's cult . .

in other words, "fake" medicine which can cause dangerous side effects and can even make the symptoms worse.

"Quackery". t-rump and crew must want their cult to die for their master.

[dalton99a]

30. Trump knows exactly what he's doing.