It’s the drug that Donald Trump touted as a game-changer for fighting COVID-19. Back in March, he wanted hydroxychloroquine “put in use IMMEDIATELY.” But now the U.S. Food & Drug Administration is issuing a warning saying:
The FDA is aware of reports of serious heart rhythm problems in patients with COVID-19 treated with hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, often in combination with azithromycin and other QT prolonging medicines. We are also aware of increased use of these medicines through outpatient prescriptions. Therefore, we would like to remind health care professionals and patients of the known risks associated with both hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine. We will continue to investigate risks associated with the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for COVID-19 and communicate publicly when we have more information.
Their alert also says, “Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have not been shown to be safe and effective for treating or preventing COVID-19.”
The FDA says the drug can still be used in a hospital setting or a clinical trial, but with several guidelines.
Trump and Fox News have been quiet on this drug for the last week or so as other reports surfaced that the drug wasn’t working and was fatal in some patients.
