The drug for coronavirus infection should be taken under the control of the doctor, after blood tests and ECG. It is toxic to heart, contraindicated in case of arrhythmia, pregnancy, renal and liver failure. Chloroquine is not recommended for prevention, and its analogs are used for doctors after contact with infected. Independent reception is dangerous with its complications, as it may cause convulsions, loss of vision, deterioration of the brain, and cardiovascular circulation.
Causes of Chloroquine selection for coronavirus
Chloroquine is used for coronavirus, or rather, its complications – viral pneumonia with cytokine storm syndrome. It is the figurative name of the fatal reaction of the immune system in the heart of pneumonia.
The inflammatory process caused by the virus attracts many lymphocytes into the pulmonary tissue. They are destroyed and emit cytokines – small protein molecules, signaling dangers, and attracting even more immune cells. This leads to the destruction of the lungs and the spread of defeat to other internal organs.
Chloroquine can interrupt this reaction, as suppresses the immune system. The interest in it arose when the used anti-inflammatory agents (hormones, non-steroid drugs) caused rapid reproduction of coronavirus. They were banned then.
Chloroquine was effective for coronavirus, while there is a confirmed anti-virus action only outside the body. Before this, the drug was used for malaria, and later it was found that it helped for the autoimmune diseases. They are characterized by the reaction of the immune system (antibodies) on their own tissues. It is the ability to suppress immunity and was necessary for a patient with coronavirus with cytokine storm syndrome.
The media hastened to say that the remedy for the new infection was found, and Donald Trump said that Chloroquine had caused good foreboding. It is partly true, but it is too early to declare the ability to stop the epidemic. The same applies to a large group of other anti-virus drugs (Favipiravir, Remesivir, Ribavirin). They helped cure patients in China and Western Europe, but it took too little time for the necessary research.
Contraindications and possible complications of Chloroquine
Chlorophosphate is not used for coronavirus if there are contraindications:
renal, liver failure;
bone marrow defeat with the oppression of blood circulation;
arrhythmia;
low level of leukocytes;
psoriatic arthritis;
pregnancy.
The drug is not harmless and can cause a number of complications:
allergic reactions – inflammation and itching, sprinkling, increased sensitivity to sunlight;
muscle, headache;
sickness in the stomach, nausea, vomiting;
mental disorders, headache, dizziness, insomnia;
convulsive twitch muscles, seizure attack;
heart muscle defeat with changes on ECG;
a drop of blood pressure;
deterioration of vision – the dimness of the cornea, vascular changes on the eye bottom;
the ringing in ears, violation of brain circulation, especially after 65 years.
How is Chloroquine used in coronavirus treatment? Does it really help?
Chloroquine doesn’t help in the treatment of coronavirus, but the doctor should accurately determine the time for its purpose, as the decrease of immune reaction is not desirable. Therefore, therapy is always carried out in the hospital when you can constantly monitor the condition of lungs and blood tests.
An important condition of application is regular ECG. It should be taken at the start of the therapy and then once in 5 days. The dosage of Chloroquine for coronavirus is 500 mg twice a day for a week.
Chloroquine Overview
A detailed overview of Chloroquine will clear out the indications to the drug use, its potential for COVID-19 treatment, safety, contraindications, and possible side effects.
Chloroquine is a drug intended to treat some types of malaria and amebiasis. It can also be used in patients suffering from certain autoimmune diseases, like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. However, as of 2020, this preparation is being studied for its potential to cure COVID-19.
The efficiency of Chloroquine in individuals with chloroquine-sensitive forms of malaria is explained by the ability of the medication to inhibit the vital functions of the parasite cells. It interferes with the normal membrane function thus leading to cell autodigestion.
The use of this preparation in the experimental treatment of patients infected with novel coronavirus is explained by the antiviral properties of Chloroquine. It affects the viral cell pH, which doesn’t allow the virus to release its RNA into the cell, and thus replicate.
Chloroquine is a very serious medication with a whole list of warnings and contraindications. What’s more, the drug can be the reason for numerous adverse reactions, which can get extremely dangerous if it is taken without the doctor’s prescription. Therefore, the first step to a safe intake of Chloroquine is a consultation with a medical specialist. Only if your doctor considers that the potential benefits prevail the possible risks, he/she can give out a prescription for it.
The dosing regimen of the drug depends on the disease treated. In case the medication is used for the prophylaxis of malaria, the scheme of intake gets totally different from the one used to cure this illness. For example, when using Chloroquine as a prophylactic measure, take 500 mg tablet once a week, the same day of the week. It is strongly advised to start the intake two weeks prior to the possible exposure to the parasite.
The therapeutic dose of the medication for the treatment of malaria depends on the patient’s weight. The therapy lasts for only 3 days with different doses of the medication taken each day.
When treating amebiasis, the common dose is 1 g Chloroquine for two days (single daily dose intake). The dose should be halved on the third day of the therapy and remain the same for the rest of two or three weeks of treatment.
Trying to find a cure for the novel coronavirus, the World Health Organization, as well as the US CDC, allowed using some of the already existing drugs as an off-label treatment for this illness. Chloroquine became one of those that have shown positive results in patients with confirmed COVID-19.
Because of the lack of knowledge regarding the effect of the drug on the virus and the absence of common recommendations for its use in this category of patients, it’s up to the medical specialists to decide what dose of Chloroquine to prescribe.
Clinical studies on the efficiency and safety of Chloroquine for COVID-19 treatment are already on the way. They started in January and the first results give hope for the better.
One of the cases, when Chloroquine can do more harm than benefit, is its use in patients who are hypersensitive or allergic to chloroquine or 4-aminoquinolines. It is strictly contraindicated to prescribe this drug to the patients with the mentioned issues.
The medication can also provoke rapid worsening of certain health conditions, including:
Porphyria;
Psoriasis;
Lactose intolerance;
Vision problems (retinopathy).
Therefore, its use in individuals with these health problems is not recommended.
Being a prescription-only drug, Chloroquine may cause more serious side effects in patients with certain health conditions. To reduce the risks, special caution and close monitoring are needed when prescribing Chloroquine to those suffering from:
Kidney or liver dysfunction;
Hearing problems;
Diabetes;
Heart rhythm issues, QT prolongation, in particular.
There exist certain risks for the fetus and breastfed babies if their mothers take Chloroquine. It is recommended to avoid prescribing this medication in these patients. However, if the potential benefits for the mother prevail the possible risks for the baby, this medication can be applied.
The drug can increase your skin sensitivity to the sun. Thus, you should use all the possible protective measures, including sunscreen, hats, and clothes covering the body areas that can be exposed to the sun to avoid sunburns.
The most commonly experienced side effects of the drug are associated with the gastrointestinal tract. They are the following:
Nausea;
Vomiting;
Diarrhea;
Stomach cramps.
Headaches are also not rare in patients taking Chloroquine. In most cases, these reactions are light-to-moderate in nature and go away on their own. Still, you should inform your attending doctor about them to keep the situation under control.
Unfortunately, the reactions we’ve mentioned above are only a few of all the possible conditions you may develop. Among the severe adverse effects to Chloroquine there are:
Changes in the blood sugar level;
Upper respiratory infection signs;
Slowed heart rhythm, QT prolongation;
Symptoms of heart failure;
Mood swings, depression;
Vision problems;
Ringing in the ears (rarely, hearing loss).
The list can be continued but you’d better discuss it with your healthcare provider. Any of the listed reactions is a reason to call 911 or go to the nearest clinic.
One of the factors determining the severity of adverse reactions you may experience is your general health condition. Also, the intake of certain medications or shortage of some nutrients (magnesium or potassium) can trigger more severe adverse reactions than in other patients taking Chloroquine. Therefore, informing your doctor about all the drugs and herbal products you use is crucial.
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