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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNewsweek: Over 100 people have died in U.S. while taking hydoxychloroquine for COVID-19
Over 100 people in the U.S. died in the first half of 2020 after taking the anti-malarial medicine hydroxychloroquine or related drugs while sick with COVID-19, according to a report.
Analysis of new data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) adverse events reporting system by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel revealed the deaths of 293 people in the first half of this year involved hydroxychloroquine, its brand name Plaquenil, or its sister medicine chloroquine. That was up from 75 in the first half of 2019. Of those, COVID-19 was stated as the reason for the patient using the medication in "more than half" of cases, according to the newspaper.
Hydroxychloroquine has long been prescribed to prevent or treat malaria, as well as for auto-immune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, but has more recently been falsely promoted as a treatment for COVID-19.
https://www.newsweek.com/over-100-people-have-died-us-while-taking-hydoxychloroquine-covid-19-report-1523635?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1596818127
Blue Owl
(50,494 posts)Nictuku
(3,617 posts)I've been taking it for 5 years now for Lupus. This makes me wonder if it would make it even worse for me if (god forbid) I get C-19.
I will ask my doctor, of course.
I also take high doses of Vitamin D (prescribed by my doctor 50,00 mg 3 times a week). This is also due to the Lupus because it gets triggered when I get sun on my skin. (causes my hair to fall out). Because of the lack of sun, I now have a very low level of Vitamin D in my system. (so depressing, I miss the feel of sun on my skin)
I have read that low Vitamin D people are more susceptible to C-19 symptoms. That doesn't make me feel much better because the Lupus already is messing with my auto immune system.
And how I got the Lupus? A side-effect from another terrible drug treatment I had to go on back in 2012 (Interferon).
I have to get my eyes checked every 4 months to make sure that the Plaquenil is not causing me to lose my vision.
I have a healthy distrust of all prescribed medications, do you blame me?
The studies show the it is ineffective against Covid, not that it makes it worse.
If you are safely taking it now you could continue assuming no additional medication you are given has an interaction with it.
As always make sure your Dr is aware of other medications you are taking and don't start or stop any medication without asking your Dr.