The Covid-19 pandemic is one of the greatest challenges modern medicine has ever faced. Doctors and scientists are scrambling to find treatments and drugs that can save the lives of infected people and perhaps even prevent them from getting sick in the first place.
Below is the question, answers and updated list of the most-talked-about treatments for the coronavirus.
I’ve heard several drugs mentioned as possible treatments for COVID-19. What are they and how do they work?
Answer From William F. Marshall, III M.D.
Although there is only one approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many medications are being tested.
The FDA has approved an antiviral drug called remdesivir (Veklury) to treat COVID-19 in adults and children who are age 12 and older. Remdesivir may be prescribed for people who are hospitalized with COVID-19. It’s given through a needle in the skin (intravenously). The FDA has granted an emergency use authorization for the rheumatoid arthritis drug baricitinib (Olumiant) to treat COVID-19 in some cases. Baricitinib is a pill that seems to work against COVID-19 by reducing inflammation and having antiviral activity. The FDA states baricitinib may be used in combination with remdesivir in people who are hospitalized with COVID-19 who are on mechanical ventilators or need supplemental oxygen.
Researchers are studying other potential treatments for COVID-19, including:
- Antiviral drugs. In addition to remdesivir, other antiviral drugs being tested include favipiravir and merimepodib. Studies have found that the combination of lopinavir and ritonavir isn’t effective.
- Dexamethasone. The corticosteroid dexamethasone is one type of anti-inflammatory drug that researchers are studying to treat or prevent organ dysfunction and lung injury from inflammation. Studies have found that it reduces the risk for deaths by about 30% for people on ventilators and by about 20% for people who needed supplemental oxygen.
The U.S. National Institutes of Health has recommended this drug for people hospitalized with COVID-19 who are on mechanical ventilators or need supplemental oxygen. Other corticosteroids, such as prednisone, methylprednisolone or hydrocortisone, may be used if dexamethasone isn’t available. Dexamethasone and other corticosteroids may be harmful if given for less severe COVID-19 infection.
In some cases, the drugs tocilizumab or baricitinib may be given with dexamethasone in hospitalized people who are on mechanical ventilation or need supplemental oxygen. Remdesivir may be given with dexamethasone in hospitalized people who need supplemental oxygen or who are on mechanical ventilation.
- Anti-inflammatory therapy. Researchers study many anti-inflammatory drugs to treat or prevent dysfunction of several organs and lung injury from infection-associated inflammation.
- Immune-based therapy. Researchers study the use of a type of immune-based therapy called convalescent plasma. The FDA has granted emergency use authorization for convalescent plasma therapy to treat COVID-19. Convalescent plasma is blood donated by people who’ve recovered from COVID-19. Convalescent plasma with high antibodies may be used to treat some hospitalized people ill with COVID-19 who are either early in their illness or who have weakened immune systems.
Researchers also study other immune-based therapies, including mesenchymal stem cells and monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies are proteins created in a lab that can help the immune system fight off viruses. Several monoclonal antibody medications are available. These include a combination of bamlanivimab and etesevimab, a combination of two antibodies called casirivimab and imdevimab, and sotrovimab. These drugs are used to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in people who have a higher risk of developing serious illness due to COVID-19. Treatment consists of a single intravenous infusion given in an outpatient setting. To be most effective, these medications need to be given soon after COVID-19 symptoms start and prior to hospitalization.
- Drugs being studied that have uncertain effectiveness. Researchers study amlodipine and losartan. But it’s not yet known how effective these drugs may be in treating or preventing COVID-19. Ivermectin and famotidine aren’t likely to be beneficial in treating COVID-19.
- Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine. These malaria drugs were authorized for emergency use by the FDA during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the FDA withdrew that authorization when data analysis showed that the drugs are not effective for treating COVID-19. They can also cause serious heart problems.
Drugs to prevent COVID-19. Researchers are studying drugs to prevent COVID-19 before and after exposure to the virus.
It’s not known if any of these will prove to be effective against COVID-19. It’s critical to complete medical studies to determine whether any of these medications are effective against COVID-19.
Don’t try these medications without a prescription and your doctor’s approval, even if you’ve heard that they may have promise. These drugs can have serious side effects. They’re reserved for people who are seriously ill and under a doctor’s care.
Answer From William F. Marshall, III M.D. With William F. Marshall, III M.D. @ Source: mayoclinic
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Covid-19 Drug and Treatment Tracker
Here is an updated list of 24 of the most-talked-about treatments for the coronavirus. While some are accumulating evidence that they’re effective, most are still at early stages of research. We also included a warning about a few that are just bunk.
Read more details here.
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Source: Vietnam Insider