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In a joint statement with Audifarma and the Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacovigilance Research Group of the Technological University of Pereira, Asocolfar said that in the list there are not only some drugs used by the general public, but also others that, “without scientific evidence rigorous, they are being recommended in some hospitals “.
The best known are the ivermectin, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, and azithromycin, list to which N-cetylcysteine is added: “A molecule that still does not have sufficient evidence for its use as a prophylactic or preventive, or for use in an outpatient or hospitalized patient”, according to that association.
Asocolfar warns that “its widespread use and at high doses could cause considerable harm to the patient regarding the lack of results (generating a false sense of security) and the incidence of adverse effects ”.
Although the name of this drug would have begun to circulate as possibly beneficial for the treatment of COVID-19, the association insists that “for now there is no scientific evidence to prove it“And asks physicians to evaluate the information rigorously and avoid formulating it in high concentrations until there is” evidence to show real benefit. “
“What is most worrying is that some of the drugs that are being used erroneously to manage or prevent COVID-19 have proven adverse effects and, however, they are available over the counter and are available in pharmacies and drug stores,” says Asocolfar highlighting that N-cetylcysteine is one of them.
According to the president of the Colombian Pharmacology Association, Jorge Machado, this drug would even be prohibited for children under 2 years of age and “should be used with caution in some people because of its association with increased airway obstruction (bronchospasm), therefore, the generalized use of this drug is not currently recommended neither in hospitalized patients, nor in outpatients ”.
Beware the myths about COVID-19 medications
Asocolfar also talks about other medications or treatments that have been suggested and have gained strength with the help of social networks, but that lack sufficient scientific support and can be harmful even if they work in some people.
One of the calls, for example, is for patients who take medications for arterial hypertension (HTN) avoid changing or stopping them. Although experts acknowledge that “a possible relationship between its use and an increased risk of infection” with COVID-19 is being investigated, they emphasize that “this has not been proven” and, on the other hand, “it is known that patients with bad HT controlled have worse outcomes ”.
Likewise, they mention corticosteroids such as dexamethasone, whose first results would be promising, but that “we are still awaiting the publication of the final results that allow us to conclude with certainty the impact of the use of this therapy in patients with severe COVID-19” . Meanwhile, suggest limiting its use in seriously ill patients and do not recommend it for milder patients.
Finally, returning to chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and lopinavir or ritonavir, Asocolfar explains that its apparent success in treatment “is based on positive results in laboratory results and not with patients”Therefore, “it is considered that the current evidence is not sufficient to recommend its use on a large scale, much less as prophylactic therapy.
“It is imperative that patients do not self-medicate. The use of any of these drugs can only be done after the prescription of a doctor with experience in handling this type of therapy and in a hospital environment ”, concludes Dr. Machado.
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