Can Hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19?
Clinical trials have begun, around the world, to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of adults hospitalised with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
What is Hydroxychloroquine?
- Hydroxychloroquine is a prescription drug. It comes as an oral tablet.
- Hydroxychloroquine is available as the brand-name drug Plaquenil. It’s also available in a generic version. Generic drugs usually cost less than the brand-name version.
- Hydroxychloroquine may be used as part of different combination therapy. Combination therapy with hydroxychloroquine and methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis.
Hydroxychloroquine is used to treat the following
Conditions like lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. It’s also used to prevent and treat malaria.
How it works
Hydroxychloroquine was initially used as an antimalarial drug. It treats malaria by killing the parasites that cause the disease.
Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), is a “disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD),” meaning that it helps reduce pain and swelling that inherently comes with arthritis. In addition, it can also reduce the incidence of joint damage, thus reducing the risk of developing a long-term disability from complications of rheumatoid arthritis.
Possible side effects
Common side effects that can occur with hydroxychloroquine include:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach cramps
- Vomiting
It is noted that mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks.
Other potential treatments
Remdesivir is an antiviral medication that has been used to treat SARS-CoV-2, stating that remdesivir had been shown to be active against SARS and MERS in animal models. Remdesivir is a nucleotide analogues, which inserts into viral RNA chains, causing their premature termination.
Gilead sciences are currently evaluating the safety and efficacy of remdesivir in adults who are diagnosed with COVID-19. Here is a link to the Gilead clinical-trail.
Estimated manufacturing costs in the US
Drug Name Cost Per Treatment
Remdesivir $9USD
Hydroxychloroquine $1USD
Keep your immune system healthy!
Heat Shock Protein Therapy
Studies have shown that by exposing our bodies to high levels of heat starts an immune response by producing heat shock proteins (hsp) within the body. These heat shock proteins increase the synthesis of heat shock proteins which occurs in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells when they are exposed to stress. Consequently, hsp are involved in the assembly of molecules which play important roles in the immune system. It appears that long-term confrontation of the immune system with hsp antigens may convert the immune response against these host antigens and promote autoimmune disease.
Highlights
- HSP expression significantly enhances in response to a variety of microbial stimuli.
- HSPs control virulence via interaction with regulators of cellular signaling pathways.
- Viruses regulate host HSPs at different levels of their life cycle.
- HSPs as antigen or adjuvant induce various immune responses in infectious diseases.
Health at home to boost your immune system
- Exercise and stretch at home.
- Shock protein therapy – Hot baths (of course don’t burn yourselves).
- Meditation (time to hone your hippy self).
- Healthy diet – increase your daily intake of fruits and vegetables.
Supplements that can strengthen the immune system
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient that is essential to the health and functioning of your immune system.
Vitamin D enhances the pathogen fighting effects of monocytes and macrophages, white blood cells that are important parts of your immune defence system and decreases inflammation, which helps promote the immune response.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C supports the function of various immune cells and enhances their ability to protect against infection. Vitamin C is also essential for cellular death, which helps keep your immune system healthy by clearing out old cells and replacing them with new ones.
Zinc
Zinc is a mineral that is commonly added to other supplements and other healthcare products that are meant to boost your immune system.
Zinc is needed for immune cell development and communication and plays an important role in the inflammatory response.
B complex vitamins
B vitamins, including B12 and B6, are important for healthy immune response. Yet, many adults are deficient in them, which may negatively affect immune health.
Sources:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC88905/
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8259721
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353648
www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000435.htm
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/immune-boosting-supplements#4.-Elderberry