SAN ANTONIO – Metropolitan Well being District officers are warning concerning the risks of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine after reviews that President Donald Trump stated he takes it to stop the novel coronavirus.

Dr. Junda Woo, medical director of the Metro Well being, advises in opposition to taking the drug for COVID-19.

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“We do not have conclusive science proper now to indicate that it helps,” Woo stated, including that taking the drug may yield harmful uncomfortable side effects.

“Essentially the most severe one which I can consider, and it isn’t that unusual, may be altering your coronary heart fee,” Woo stated.

Even when prescribed for malaria in hospital settings, sufferers who obtain hydroxychloroquine are intently monitored and obtain echocardiograms, which present an individual’s coronary heart exercise, Woo stated.

She isn’t saying the drug couldn’t impact the coronavirus, nevertheless it’s too early to inform.

“We want randomized managed trials to essentially know,” Woo stated.

For now, Woo stated the very best traces of protection in opposition to contracting the novel coronavirus are free and don’t should be prescribed.

“The perfect issues that you are able to do are to take care of a six-foot distance from different individuals and to not contact your face with unwashed arms,” Woo stated.

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By way of therapies, plasma transfusion trials all through the nation are displaying optimistic outcomes. Woo stated it’s promising to see that the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration gave emergency use authorization for the drug remdesivir. The drug is being studied proper now at UT Well being San Antonio and is being despatched to 5 space hospitals, together with Methodist Hospital and Methodist Hospital Stone Oak.

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