NO ‘MAGIC PILL’

The Department of Health yesterday warned the public that dexamethasone is not a “magic pill” against COVID-19, adding that it still needs to undergo a thorough study.

The Department of Health yesterday warned the public that dexamethasone is not a "magic pill" against COVID-19, adding that it still needs to undergo a thorough study.

Although they welcome the positive news about the steroid treatment dexamethasone – which is being touted as a breakthrough in treating COVID-19 – Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire reminded the public that there is still no developed cure for the dreaded illness.

“People might think that this is the 'magic pill' para sa COVID, it is not,” Vergeire said. “Dapat maipakalat natin sa mga tao na hindi tayo bibili sa drugstores para inumin natin ito para ma-prevent na magkaka-COVID tayo. Dapat iyon maintindihan ng lahat ng mga tao,” she added.

The Health official noted that the current study being done for dexamethasone is still in the preliminary stage and that it still needs to go through a “peer review” process or the evaluation of other medical professionals to prove its efficacy.

Vergeire also noted that the low dose of dexamethasone is found to be only effective to those with severe or critical cases of COVID-19, citing the study in the United Kingdom.

“Ginamit lang nila ito sa mga taong may severe at critical cases – doon sa mga taong nangangailangan ng oxygen o di kaya nasa ventilator,” she said. “Tandaan natin ang sinabi ng study sa UK – they only use it for severe and critical – doon s’ya nag-work,” she added.

The World Health Organization on Tuesday said that initial clinical trial results of dexamethasone in the United Kingdom showed that it “can be lifesaving for patients who are critically ill with COVID-19.”

“This is the first treatment to be shown to reduce mortality in patients with COVID-19 requiring oxygen or ventilator support,” said WHO DirectorGeneral Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

FABUNAN INJECTION

In a related development, Vergeire noted that the Fabunan antiviral injection should not be considered as an effective cure for COVID-19 although it contains dexamethasone.

Vergeire said that the FAI remains unregistered with the Food and Drug Administration.

“You have to register your product, at saka kailangan mag-register kayo for a clinical trial para masubukan ng maayos. Pero hanggang sa ngayon, hindi pa rin nila iyan naibibigay sa atin na application and all,” said Vergeire.

A video had circulated on social media claiming that FAI is a cure for COVID-19.