Early research is inconsistent about hydroxychloroquine’s effect on COVID-19.
Editor’s note: This article was published on April 21, 2020. COVID-19 information and recommendations are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website or view our most recent COVID-19 blog posts.
Hydroxychloroquine is in the news and at the top of internet searches of people looking for options to treat novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Used since the 1950’s, this prescription drug can treat rheumatoid arthritis and lupus to decrease the pain and swelling of arthritis. It also prevents and treats malaria.
Is hydroxychloroquine effective against COVID-19?
Since March 2020, hydroxychloroquine has received significant attention by medical researchers across the globe.
“There have been many poorly designed studies published showing contradictory results leading to significant confusion,” said Logan Whitfield, PharmD, Marshfield Clinic Health System pharmacy antimicrobial stewardship coordinator. “Some studies reported modest benefit, some studies reported no benefit, and some studies even hinted at potential harm.”
Whitfield notes that many of those studies were not peer-reviewed.
“More recently, there have been several peer-reviewed, randomized-controlled trials, the highest grade of evidence, that have shown hydroxychloroquine does not promote viral clearance, prevent hospitalization in those taking it at the onset of symptoms, or improve clinical outcome in patients with COVID-19 of any severity,” Whitfield said. “Some of these studies included the concomitant use of azithromycin, zinc, and vitamin C without any statistically significant benefit.”
Three of the most well respected guidelines for the treatment of COVID-19 published by the World Health Organization, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and National Institutes of Health now recommend against use of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19 outside enrollment in a clinical trial.
Potential for severe side effects
While everyone reacts differently to medications, common side effects with hydroxychloroquine include headache, dizziness, diarrhea, stomach cramps or vomiting. Some of these effects occurred up to 3-5 times more often than placebo in COVID-19 clinical trials. Above all, it also can cause serious side effects like irregular heartbeat.
Unless enrolled in a clinical trial, hydroxychloroquine should be avoided for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19. The available evidence suggests it is not effective, and side effects may include fatal arrhythmias in susceptible populations.
Risk of shortage
Hydroxychloroquine currently is no longer in shortage. This could change rapidly, however; if misinformation propagates continued use of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19.
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Disappointing that you cite the disreputable WHO and not common sense that a drug that has been PERFECTLY SAFE for 65 years is now verboten. Time to reconsider healthcare provider options. HCQ should be prescribed early and often for those with potential exposure.
Politics and the nastiness they bring are in people's responses here. Darn shame how one person's attitude can bring out the ire of so many that don't even know each other. Try to smile while responding to things. It might bring out the nice in you!
Thank you for posting. Sad the way some make everything about politics.
I agree with you Ron … thanks for saying it so succinctly.
"…some studies even hinted at potential harm." Potential Harm – that is not a study! That is just hearsay. If that is what your study came up with it is not worthy of MFC!
What about those Frontline Doctors that are using Hydroxychloroquine along with zinc, and azithromycin and they say are having success treating covid patients and there using only 200mg every two weeks. There is so much info out there, both pro and con it's hard to deicpher it all. I for one don't trust the WHO and do trust those Frontline Doctors. I know there is a lot of censoring going on right now with youtube, facebook, and others
Those side effects can be found in a multitude of drugs, including tylenol and NSAIDS. I would hope that my doc would be able to look at my personal health and along with me make a decision about the use of this drug.
Hydroxychloroquine was approved for medical use in the United States in 1955. Wonder how much money you have taken to dismiss that fact and promote your agenda…
I be you are totally dismissing an alternative treatment that has been safely used for years.
Sad.
So does this mean that Marshfield clinic doctors will not prescribe this if I need it? Because that means that I need to find a different health care provider. This means that Marshfield clinic has completely capitulated to the cultural left, and is putting political correctness above science. That scares me to death. Why would I believe the WHO? It is completely controlled by the communist Chinese. This drug has been used for years for malaria, and you're telling me that it is dangerous and shouldn't be prescribed? Why is it ok to prescribe it for malaria, but not for COVID-19? I'll tell you why, because it is cheap, and the drug companies can't get rich on it. And besides, president Trump suggested it might be helpful, so we have to squash it!
Joel D, You are so correct. We are to believe three of the most corrupt organizations in the world with the truth. Give me a break.
I completely agree with your reply. Our health problems should not be political. Besides if a person has Covid it would be wiser to try a drug that could possibly help and has been used for over 50 years. Been patient for 35 years have to think about that !!
I was replying to Joel not the team. Just wanted to clarify.
Since this posting is from April, I wondering if there is any update regarding treatment with hydroxychroquine for COVID-19.
Hi Cathy,
Thank you for reaching out. This blog has been updated within the last couple weeks with the latest information from our expert.
Thanks,
Jake
I left a message some weeks ago, wondering if there is any research on people who have taken hydroxcyhroquine for many years. Will this protect me from the covet 19 virus? Also could I be tested for antibodies, because I had some symptoms in January.
Hi Karen,
The World Health Organization recently halted its Hydroxychloroquine clinical trials due to serious safety concerns. You can learn more here: https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/25/861913688/who-halts-hydroxychloroquine-trial-over-safety-concerns
Marshfield Clinic Health System does provide antibody, or serology testing. If you want to learn more about COVID-19 testing or want to talk about next steps, it is recommended that you talk to your Marshfield Clinic Health System provider.
Thanks,
Jake
The WHO and NPR have no credibility. Your citing them puts Marshfield Clinic's credibility in doubt as well.
Jeff, your sarcasm in you reply Invalidates your statement. This response is bogus as far as I’m concerned and will look for a better source of information. Marshfield Clinic please find a better non political source.
I'm just trying to share relevant information and call a spade a spade. I hope you find what you're looking for. Peace.
So when will I be getting my RX back of this drug. I have been taking it for over 5 years for RA, and than Marshfield Pharmacy tells be I can't have it?? So now I have to take steroids because I have one RA flare up after another.
FYI another side effect of hydroxychloroquine is age related macular degeneration. I was prescribed this drug by my Rheumatologist for an autoimmune disease I have, and my Ophthalmologist told me of the risk of this eye disease. I now have been diagnosed with age related macular degeneration and need extra monitoring and tests with each eye exam to
determine the progression of this disease. This eye disease can lead to blindness. I would prefer to not take an unproven drug for Covid with the risk of going blind.
I am a 74-year-old male and a if I were diagnosed with the virus I would have no apprehension whatsoever to request hydroxychloroquine as my treatment; the earliest the better.
if Marshfield clinic is going to limit the use of hydrochloriquin for COVID-19 then I'll make sure that my family goes to Aspirus for care if we come down with COVID-19
If I get Covid 19 and I am dying I would request this drug. I take a long list of medications with side effects, why worry about side effects of a medication that could save my life?
Be aware that the results for very sick patients are unclear. A VA study found no clear benefit and an increased death rate for patients given hydroxychloroquine. It's a quick retrospective study and not peer-reviewed yet, so more investigation is needed, but not encouraging so far.
Those VA patients were being given toxic doses of the drugs. That’s a part that they seem to leave out of every publication and news story. They like to use our elderly military veterans as guinea pigs. This is also not widely shared information, but something I have seen firsthand with my father who is in the VA system due to Agent Orange poisoning.
Haha if you are dying you wouldn't be requesting anything. You'd intubated and comatose. However, you are too dense to understand this.
This article is just the typical democrats response. Sad to see it is posted on this site.
The article is measured, and based on the current science. Your comment is not.
Have just read several examples of studies saying hydroxychroquine may be effective and may not be The studies done saying it may be were from China and France, were limited in test size, and actually had some detail on dose and initial conditions of patients. Their results show it may be effective at early stages of disease. The latest studies read showing it may not be effective have precious little detail on anything, but they appear to show that the drug was administered on patients well into the deadlier stages of the disease. In America, it appears unlikely to be able to get treatment or admission till you are in the later stages, and as related by the news, by the time you need a air pump your chances are not good at all.