The coronavirus has had a devastating impact on the world. The first positive test confirmation of the virus was discovered in Wuhan, China. According to a CNN Live Update, “the virus has resulted in 10,000 global fatalities.” The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the coronavirus as a global pandemic. In fact, it has had a financial, economic, and social impact on society. Many people of all ages have become sick from the virus with the youngest victim being a newborn whose mother tested positive. In an effort to find a cure, healthy subjects are being asked to take part in a research study.
In a recent press conference, President Donald Trump said: “Chloroquine has been FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved to fight the coronavirus.” The FDA has since refuted his claims stating that chloroquine has been approved to fight other illnesses, but not approved as a direct cure for the coronavirus. While the president’s claims have been shunned, the FDA is testing the powerful drug to see if it can be used to treat the coronavirus. In fact, chloroquine has been successful at combating other debilitating diseases like malaria.
Contents
What Is Chloroquine?
According to the Centers for Disease Control, “chloroquine is an antimalarial drug also known as chloroquine phosphate.” It has been used to prevent and treat malaria. Chloroquine has also been used to treat even resistant cases of malaria. The FDA has approved the drug as a powerful prescription medication and is also known as an “old malaria drug.” Chloroquine is also used in areas where malaria is the most sensitive. As a powerful drug, chloroquine is in the forefront to fight the coronavirus as the medical community tries to find a way to control the virus that is quickly impacting the world.
The coronavirus is spread from person-to-person contact. Medical experts have said that it can also live on surface materials for up to three days. Many people that find themselves suffering from the coronavirus are asymptomatic while others including older adults are most vulnerable and likely to die from the virus.
Thus, many people are expected to recover while others will contact the virus and succumb to the symptoms and these are the individuals that will benefit from the use of chloroquine. Chloroquine is already available in the United States as a prescription medication. Used to treat liver disease, chloroquine is also available in generic form.
History Behind Chloroquine
Chloroquine is used to fight the parasites associated with malaria from mutating in the red blood cells. The parasites that cause malaria initially enter the bloodstream through a mosquito bite. Malaria is mainly common in Africa, South Africa, and Southern Asia.
Chloroquine is also available to patients for long-term use. Research has not determined if it is harmful to unborn children, but it can be pasted through the breast milk of a nursing mother. Patients should tell their doctor if they suspect they might be pregnant.
More importantly, chloroquine can be used as a complete cure for malaria in combination with primaquine, which is why the medical community is looking into its benefits for the treatment of the coronavirus.
Side Effects Of Chloroquine
By taking chloroquine, interaction with other drugs may occur. However, it’s important to take chloroquine as your doctor recommends it to avoid a harsh reaction or adverse side effects. The side effects of chloroquine include:
- blurred vision
- nausea
- dizziness
- vomiting
- abdominal cramps
- diarrhea
If you suffer from any of these side effects while taking chloroquine, you should talk to your doctor right away. Your doctor is maybe able to lower your dosage. Your doctor has prescribed you this medication because they believe the benefits outweigh the risks.
There are also serious side effects that can occur including:
- bleaching of the hair
- confusion
- personality change
- hair loss
- darkening of the skin
- unusual swelling of the legs
- pale skin/lips
- shortness of breath
- dark urine yellowing of the eyes
Note: If serious side effects occur, your doctor may take the patient off of chloroquine. Many people do not experience serious side effects but suffer from mild side effects from the use of chloroquine.
Can Chloroquine Help Combat Coronavirus?
There have been many drugs being tested in the fight against the coronavirus even the use of the drug cocktail to treat AIDS in China. However, to fast track against the coronavirus, the FDA is testing chloroquine as well as working on a vaccine. Chloroquine was being used as an antiviral medication to treat Ebola. Chloroquine should be taken as an oral medication (i.e. tablets) as prescribed by your doctor. There are many drugs being tested in the fight against the coronavirus, but the research into chloroquine has the president confident in a treatment option that can be distributed quickly.
The research into chloroquine is still very new and must be properly researched before it can be administered to Americans fighting the coronavirus. In fact, patients are being advised that the coronavirus is still be researched and there is very little information known on its ability to effectively fight the coronavirus.
Simply put, there is just more extensive research that must be done before it’s proven to be a proven treatment option in the fight against the active virus behind corona, which is Covid-19. Until chloroquine is proven to help in the fight against Covid-19, patients should still follow the advice of their physician.
Conclusion
The medical community understands there’s an immediate need to find a treatment option against the fight and spread of Covid-19. Health experts are actively looking into every option available, but they don’t want people to get false hopes or believe that there’s a current treatment option available based on rumors and not actual medical advice concerning chloroquine phosphate tablets. Americans are being encouraged to not let their guard down against Covid-19 to avoid spreading the disease to continue to follow the advice of their physician to avoid contracting the virus.
