ICMR clarifies 'no major side-effects' of Hydroxychloroquine, advises to 'continue' usage

Reflecting upon temporary pause on Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) trials imposed by World Health Organisation (WHO) Executive Board, Indian Medical Research council (ICMR) chief Balram Bhargava explained reason behind continual of drug in India. Bhargava reasoned that drug should be continued because studies have shown that re is ' harm' while re 'maybe benefit.' He also added that ICMR had issued revised guidelines to monitor and effect proper us of HCQ. 

Addressing media on Tuesday, ICMR chief said, "This COVID is an evolving field. We do t kw which drug is working and which drug is t. A lot of drugs are being repurposed wher it be prevention or for treatment. We all kw that Chloroquine is a very old anti-malarial drug and Hydroxychloroquine is even safer." 

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" biological plausibility was supporting that it is a possible anti-viral drug. Once we got biological plausibility and we did an in-vitro study and found that it has anti-viral properties. It should be continued because re is harm, benefit may be re," Bhargava added.

studies conducted also revealed that drug causes major side-effects, except nausea, vomiting and palpitation

ICMR chief also informed about proper dos of drug and stated that apex medical council has advised drug to all frontline workers. Bhargava informed that drug should be taken with food and one tablet every week for eight weeks after an initial dose of two tablets. During treatment, ECG should also be conducted.

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WHO pauses HCQ trial 

In a major decision, World Health Organisation (WHO)'s Executive Group, on Monday, decided to temporarily pause Hydroxychlorine (HCQ) trial while data collected so far is reviewed, anunced WHO chief Dr. Tedros in a press briefing. He added that Executive Group's solidarity trial comprising of 10 countries will adequately evaluate potential benefits and harms from this drug. Clarifying that or arms of trial were continuing, he added that drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine were generally safe for treating patients of autoimmune diseases or malaria.

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