Miracle Drug?

President Trump may be taking it, but results are inconclusive on hydroxychloroquine

President Donald Trump created something of a stir Monday when he said he was taking the drug hydroxychloroquine to help ward off the coronavirus.

The drug is used against malaria and is also sometimes prescribed as a treatment for autoimmune diseases, particularly lupus.

But is it effective against COVID-19? Is it even safe?

The truth is we just don’t know yet. Anecdotally, President Trump has tested negative for the virus despite reported exposure. And some doctors report success using it.

But larger studies on hydroxychloroquine don’t confirm any benefits for prevention or treatment. A French study in April showed no benefits and a study at U.S. veterans hospitals even reported a higher death rate from those taking the drug.

Two major tests are going now at Duke University and Michigan’s Henry Ford Health System. More than a thousand subjects in all are being tested with hydroxychloroquine and placebos. The results should give a better understanding of whether the drug is effective or not.

President Trump’s physician, Navy Cmdr. Sean Conley, said Monday that he weighed the pros and cons of hydroxychloroquine and “concluded the potential benefit from treatment outweighed the relative risks.”

We suspect many in the public are wondering if they should be taking it as well.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cautioned against taking hydroxychloroquine unless one is in the hospital or part of a clinical study because it could cause heart rhythm problems. The official FDA position is that the drug has “not been shown to be safe and effective for treating or preventing Covid-19.”

In other words, don’t think hydroxychloroquine is a miracle preventative or a cure, no matter what you see on TV or online. It’s not been proven and it may carry risks more dangerous than the virus itself. In our view, it would be prudent to wait for more conclusive information.