Antimalarial drugs -- including one that some patients rely on to treat their lupus or rheumatoid arthritis -- is becoming harder to get in the United States, pharmacists say, partly because of remarks President. coronavirus hydroxychloroquine
Nonetheless, with all the buzz, American pharmacists are concerned about the hoarding of hydroxychloroquine by people who don’t have an immediate need.“Our members are definitely seeing more demand for this medication and possibly some people trying to hoard the medication,” said Todd Brown, executive director of the Massachusetts Independent Pharmacists Association.
According to Brown, it appears the hoarders include doctors and dentists who are writing prescriptions for themselves or family members. “Pharmacists are seeing an increase in requests and prescriptions for them in instances where it’s not clear why the patient needs it at this time,” he said. Brown suggests that pharmacists restrict prescription quantities and fill prescriptions only for patients with an active need for hydroxychloroquine. In a statement, CVS Health said the company is “monitoring the global pharmaceutical manufacturing environment and working with our suppliers to ensure we can continue filling prescriptions for our pharmacy patients and plan members.” CVS said it has an adequate supply of hydroxychloroquine and is taking steps to make sure the supply remains stable. Some data show hospitals stocking up on the drug as well.The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy said six states, so far, have taken steps to limit inappropriate prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine and preserve supplies for patients who take the medicine as approved. Those states are Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas. “Based on reports we see from the states, pharmacists have a fairly good idea that what they’re seeing is prescribers prescribing for themselves and their families and stockpiling these medications rather than prescribing for patients,” said Carmen Catizone, executive director of the NABP. If doctors are hoarding, some colleagues say, that’s unethical. Dr. Michael Barnett, a primary care physician and an assistant professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said that even if clinical studies now in progress show the drug to be effective against COVID-19, it must be saved for those most in need. “There are front-line physicians where, if this medication is actually effective or can be used to prevent coronavirus, they certainly could merit treatment with that,” Barnett said. And, he noted, “we are very far from knowing whether it’s effective in that manner. ” Still, Barnett said he can see why a doctor or nurse might say, “Hey, I can’t get the masks or goggles or gowns I need to protect myself. Why not try this medication?”Though sympathetic, Barnett pointed out that this powerful medicine has serious side effects, so it should not be taken unless there’s a known benefit. “Having sort of a free-for-all in terms of prescribing for oneself and just deciding that ‘I’m going to grab some while I can’ is the kind of mentality that can really undermine our efforts to actually have a concerted public health campaign against this disease,” he said. More immediately, patients with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis take hydroxychloroquine daily to reduce swelling and rashes. Dr. Jeff Sparks said his patients at Brigham and Women’s Hospital were already fretting about having enough medicine on hand if stores close or it’s hard for them to go out. And then the president began calling the drug a game changer. “The entire last week seemed to be filled with a lot of anxiety about what to do about medications and, in particular, patients asking for refills for hydroxychloroquine,” Sparks said. Some patients are already being told they can’t get the medication or can get only a limited supply. The Lupus Foundation has asked congressional leaders to ensure supplies for lupus patients.“So even if patients are doing well, stopping the medication could cause them to flare, which means that they then need to go on other immunosuppressants … or even get admitted and potentially get exposed [to the coronavirus] in the clinical setting,” Sparks said. He added that hydroxychloroquine, like ventilators and masks, is a medical resource the country needs to learn to manage more carefully.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Why most auto dealers, service departments are open for business during coronavirusDealers, who have been hit hard by the crisis already, say their businesses are essential to many Americans who need to buy or fix cars to get to their jobs or other critical destinations like hospitals.
Read more »
Why soap, sanitizer and warm water work against Covid-19 and other virusesWhile you're scrubbing your hands to help stop the spread of Covid-19, you're also killing off a host of other nasty bacteria and potentially lethal viruses that have plagued humans for centuries -- including influenza and other coronaviruses.
Read more »
Why So Many Celebrities Love BaubleBar AccessoriesLizzo, Mindy Kaling, Jennifer Lopez, Katherine Schwarzenegger... so many celebs are rocking these cost-effective accessories!
Read more »
Why Germany's Coronavirus Death Rate Is Far Lower Than In Other CountriesSo far, Germany's fatality rate for coronavirus — 0.5% —is the lowest in the world, by a long shot. Experts say that's because they're testing early and often. One virologist estimates the country has been testing about 120,000 people a week.
Read more »
California needs nurses. So why is the state about to give up 10,000 prospects?California regulations may prevent thousands of nursing students from graduating, despite frantic effort to boost numbers of healthcare workers amid the pandemic.
Read more »
California needs nurses. So why is the state about to give up 10,000 prospects?California regulations may prevent thousands of nursing students from graduating, despite frantic effort to boost numbers of healthcare workers amid the pandemic.
Read more »