Hydroxychloroquine — covid-19

[Peacox]

I read a really interesting article in a French newspaper. In the Pitié Salpetriere hospital in Paris, they are using Hydroxychloroquine to treat people who are sick with the Covid-19 virus. I found an English article that I thought might be of interest. Here it is techstartups.com/2020/03/18...

[Peacox]

If you speak French, here is the original arrival I found, saying they are now actually using it in the hospital liberation.fr/checknews/202...

[VeronicaF]

I am on this drug, so if its true that's good for me too

[Peacox in reply to VeronicaF]

Yes indeed. I think a lot of us are on it. It’s an interesting and somewhat cheering development Perhaps, in these dark times. Of course, I’m not a doctor.

[Bessieboo1 in reply to VeronicaF]

I’m on it as well💜

[springcross]

I saw something tonight about chloroqine being used (I think in China) to treat it - it may have been the news on BBC or SKY - can't remember. They were giving the names of the drugs being used in different countries.

[wishbone]

Only the other day I was reading a Chinese scientific paper regarding trials that are currently taking place for a few different drugs, the most promising of which appeared to be Hydroxychloroquine. A darned shame I had to stop taking it 6 months ago because it seriously exacerbated my formerly mild tinnitus. Goes without saying that I'd put up with that if the report is accurate! The article states a 4 day course is required. I wonder what the situation is for long term users like many of us here are.

[JFlay in reply to wishbone]

Strange isn't it? I wouldn't think it would do much in 4 days? as it is very slow acting for us 'rheumatoids'.

I'm worried there might be a shortage if it's true 😟

[wishbone in reply to JFlay]

Good news: I just found a full box stashed away from when I used to take it.

Bad news: I'm hearing it's not much use with more severe cases of the virus, which with my lungs, is how I'll end up if I catch it.

More good news: Seeing they won't be much use to me I'll sell the tablets on Ebay for £20 a pop.

[JFlay in reply to wishbone]

😂

[Hidden in reply to wishbone]

Very enterprising 😂

[wishbone in reply to Hidden]

If you can't beat 'em............................

[Agoodlife in reply to JFlay]

I have understood that it’s no longer prescribed in UK. A generic is offfered instead to prevent a rush. Anyone heard?

[Peacox in reply to Agoodlife]

I still get it. Although every now and then I’ve had a generic. Not often though.

[VeronicaF in reply to Agoodlife]

I am in UK and am on it, its been a wonder drug for me too plus changing my diet and keeping mobile, all three works in hand to keep me okay

[TheBoys in reply to Agoodlife]

Hi, I m prescribed it. I take 200 mg per day...

Wonder if it builds up in your system?

[cathie]

Thanks for article

[HanaleiBa]

Actemra is at the front lines as well. This shows how dramatically different the virus is on our immune system and how much we need to learn. Stay safe!

[HevP]

Thank you for sharing this. This might be a little light in these uncertain times. 🙏 Stay safe. X

[Longlocks]

I have about 2 months supply that I no longer take. I really wish it could be used instead of destroyed. The boxes and blister packs are still intact 😳 seems such a waste I have mtx and folic acid too 😢

[sallygrain in reply to Longlocks]

Keep them. You may need them yourself if the situation deteriorates and you cannot get into hospital I know it’s not technically legal but the times are very different. That rule is crazy wasteful

[bendillon in reply to Longlocks]

Can you not take both,i as many others do ?

[Badger22]

Apparently Tocilizumab is also being used to treat the virus. It’s great that they have found drugs that could potentially help those that are unwell. On a purely selfish level it does make me a little worried as to whether the meds may be in short supply as cases increase.

[Embriony]

I was on this drug, but had to stop taking it as every time I had a shower I would have this horrible itch for about 20 minutes. It wasn't the kind of itch that was satisfying to scratch, it was more like someone had injected white hot itching powder under my skin. I couldn't think about anything else while it lasted. I briefly read about another case on here and I now wish I'd filled in a yellow card, because I went on eliminating every other possible cause of this itching for weeks, mainly because it didn't appear as a side effect in the patient information leaflet. When I dug a bit deeper, I found reference to 'pruritis' in the full package insert but this was all. However, I'd put up with this again if it helps avoid symptoms of coronavirus!

[Peacox in reply to Embriony]

I’ve been on Hydroxychloroquine since 2012. The first year I had this itch terribly. I googled and found that it is indeed a side affect. So I stopped having showers and now only take baths. At first I used expensive medicated ‘oil’ solutions for skin problems. But I swapped to very cheap baby oil (the cheaper the better) and use it in the bath every day. It makes the itch manageable. I don’t get it anywhere near as bad now, but that might be because I’ve been on the drug for so long. The ‘itch’ hasn’t completely disappeared, but it is more than manageable. Hydroxychloroquine has been a bit of a wonder drug for me, so I’m glad I worked out a workable solution. But yes indeed, when it’s bad it’s awful, like the itch is under your skin!

[Embriony]

I wish I’d known about “dry showers” then 🙁. You know, the sort of thing that is aimed at campers and festival goers. I always keep some in now and occasionally use it. I’ve never found putting it in my hair very successful, but dry shampoo works wonders and the body wash really leaves me feeling very clean, just as clean as a bath or shower in fact.

I’m intrigued by your reference to a bath causing less distress than a shower. I never used ours at the time, because I was still hoping it would stop and I thought if a shower caused this, then a bath would be worse!