Trump defends taking hydroxychloroquine as 'line of defence' despite alleged health risks

Despite risks flagged by various health experts, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended his taking antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine as a 'line of defence' against coronavirus. Trump went on to say that drug has gotten a bad reputation only because 'he was promoting it'. 

"I think it's worth it as a line of defence and I'll stay on it for a little while longer. I'm just very curious myself, but it seems to be very safe, Trump told reporters at White House, a day after he disclosed that he has been taking drug to ward off deadly infection.

"So, I am obviously a very bad promoter. If anybody else were promoting it, y would say this is greatest thing ever. It is a very powerful drug I guess but it doesn't harm you and so I thought as a frontline defence, possibly it would be good, and I have had impact from it," Trump said, adding that antimalaria drug has received 'tremendous' reviews from doctors all over world.

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Trump even said: "I have a doctor in White House. I said what do you think? And it's just a line of defence, he said, adding that drug was inexpensive." Trump also accused that recent studies claiming drug to be ineffective was 'inaccurate'. "re was a false study done where y gave it to very sick people, extremely sick people, people that were ready to die. It was given by obviously t friends of administration and study came out, people were ready to die. Everybody was old, had bad problems with hearts, diabetes and everything else you can imagine. So, y gave it. So, immediately when it came out, y gave a lot of false information, Trump said."

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About Hydroxychloroquine

Hydroxychloroquine is a drug that's been around for more than 40 years for treatment of malaria. But, early in this process, FDA approved what's called off-label use where physicians could prescribe hydroxychloroquine in terms y deemed appropriate. So, my physician has t recommended that, but I wouldn't hesitate to take counsel of my doctor. Any American should do likewise, Pence said.

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Trump has called hydroxychloroquine a "game-changer" drug in fight against coronavirus. After Trump's repeated touting of hydroxychloroquine as a "game-changer" cure for virus, FDA issued an advisory warning that drug has t been "shown to be safe and effective for treating or preventing COVID-19." Trump Administration has bought millions of doses of hydroxychloroquine and stockpiled it.  India has sent several millions of doses to US as part of its humanitarian gesture. 

India is one of major manufactures of drug, which was first synsised in 1946 and is in a class of medications historically used to treat and prevent malaria. It is approved by US Food and Drug Administration to treat malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, childhood arthritis, and or autoimmune diseases. drug is t FDA-approved for treatment of COVID-19 but it has been identified as a possible treatment for infection and US government has requested its immediate availability. 

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(with PTI inputs)