Skip to main content

Is Hydroxychloroquine useful ?

WHAT IS HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE(HCQ)?

It is a derivative of chloroquine that has both antimalarial and antiinflammatory activities and is now most often used as an antirheumatological agent in systemic lupus erthematosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
It is only found in individuals who have taken this drug.


As an antirheumatic , hydroxychloroquine  is thought to act as a mild immunosuppressant,inhibiting the production of rheumatoid factor and acute phase reactants.
It is also a disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD). It regulates the activity of the immune system, which amy be overactive in some conditions. 

IS IT SAFE?

Hydroxychloroquine (plaquenil) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for symptoms of lupus.
Anew investigation analyzed the retinal changes over a five year period in people with lupus and did not find clinically relevant retinal changes in the group.
Thus the study concludes thst this is safe for long term use at doses <5mg/kg/day.

ROLE OF HYDROXY-CHLOROQUINE IN COVID 19

It is found to be effective against coronavirus in laboratory studies and in vivo studies. It's ise in prophylaxis is derived from available evidence of benefits as treatment and supported by pre-clinical data.
The following recommendation for the use of hydroxy chloroquine as a prophylactic against SARS-CoV-2 infection is based on these considerations as well as risk benefit consideration under exceptional circumstance that call for the protection of high risk individuals.

USES

It is used to treat also:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • SLE(Systemic lupus erythromatosus)
  • Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Over the long term hydroxychloroquine can reduce pain, swelling, and joint stiffness.


SIDE EFFECTS

  • Loosening of the skin.
  • Blurred vision
  • Chest pain or discomfort
  • Decreased urination
  • Diarrhea
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Sore throat

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Are We Brainwashed During Sleep?

 In a new study, researchers suggest that tonight while you sleep, something amazing will happen within your brain. Your neurons will go quiet. A few seconds later , blood flow out of your head . Then, a watery liquid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) will flow in, washing through your brain in rhythmic, pulsing waves. The study is the first to illustrate that the brain's CSF pulses during sleep,and that these motions are closely tied with brain wave activity and blood flow. The research was conducted by a team from Boston University. Earlier studies have suggested that CSF flow and slow-wave activity both help flush toxic,memory impairing proteins from the brain. As people age, their brains often generate fewer slow waves. In turn, this could affect the blood flow in the brain and reduce the pulsing of CSF during sleep., leading to buildup of toxic proteins and a decline in memory abilities. Although researchers have tended  to evaluate these processes separately, it now appea...

Possible Causes of Hand Pain

The human hands are complex and delicate structures that contain 27 bones. The muscles and joints in the hand allow for strong , precise and dexterous movements , but they are vulnerable to injury. There are many different causes and types of hand pain. Hand pain can originate in different parts of the complex skeletal structure , including the : bones joints connective tissue tendons nerves Hand  pain can stem from: inflammation nerve damage repetitive motion injuries sprains and fractures several chronic health conditions Many conditions contributing to hand pain can be treated. Depending on the cause of your hand pain, you may benefit from medications , exercises or lifestyle changes. 1. ARTHRITIS Arthritis (the inflammation of one or more joints) is the leading cause of hand pain. It can occur anywhere in the body but is particularly common in hands and wrist. There are more than 100 different types  of arthritis, but the most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthr...

PMIS : Latest post Covid-19 challenge for doctors

In a major cause of worry for doctors, several COVID-19 positive children in Mumbai are showing symptoms of a life threatening disorder. So far , two children have died after being diagnosed with the PMIS . What is PMIS ? Paediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (PMIS) is a very rare , but serious inflammatory condition that affects the children.  What are the symptoms of PMIS ? Mild symptoms of PMIS include fever, cough, sore throat and a rash. It can also cause swelling of the hands, feet and lymph nodes. In more severe cases, PMIS can also affect blood pressure , the heart and the kidneys. Symptoms of PMIS may not appear until several weeks after the initial infection. In some cases, families may not know their child had COVID-19 until they show symptoms of PMIS. In general , it is important to remember that symptoms of COVID-19 tend to be milder or do not appear as often in children. What causes PMIS ? The cause of PMIS is not known , but doctors think that it is related to...