Worldwide, researchers are working to discover and develop Covid-19 treatments.
Oxygen is the most favored supportive care for intensely ill patients. More advanced respiratory support, such as ventilators, is needed for critically ill patients (Dondorp, Hayat, Aryal, Beane, & Schultz, 2020).
Tocilizumab Can Treat Covid-19
The RECOVERY trial revealed that Tocilizumab, when contrasted with routine care, helped prevent death. Tocilizumab, a recombinant anti-interleukin-6 receptor monoclonal antibody, is typically used for arthritis. However, it has been proven effective against COVID-19 (Sheppard, Stapleton, Ha, & Laskou, 2017). Among hospitalized patients with hypoxia and systemic inflammation, Tocilizumab was also helpful. Tocilizumab was linked with a reduced mortality rate within 28 days, and a decreased occurrence of invasive mechanical ventilation or death contrasted with standard treatment. Tocilizumab was linked with a higher incidence of discharge from the hospital within 28 days. These benefits were consistent across all subgroups in the study (Bavry, 2021).
Dexamethasone Can Treat Covid-19
An overactive immune response may damage native lung tissue harsher than the harm from the initial viral infection. Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid that inhibits the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation (Sophia Entringer, 2021). It also suppresses inflammation and the immune system. A University of Oxford study reveals that Dexamethasone can save the lives of patients with severe and critical illnesses, and can help reduce the duration of time a patient is on a ventilator (The University of Oxford, 2020). Please note, using corticosteroids to suppress an immune response may lead to an uncontrolled viral infection. Talk to your physician about the benefits and disadvantages of using corticosteroids (Chaiyachati, 2020).
What Medications are Ineffective?
Remdesivir, Hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/Ritonavir, and Interferon regimens seem to have little to no effect on 28-day mortality or the in-hospital course of COVID-19 among hospitalized patients (Pan, et al., 2020). Statistics from the Solidarity trial, the French Discovery trial, and the UK's RECOVERY trial showed that hydroxychloroquine does not reduce mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients compared to patients who received the standard of care (Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Solidarity Trial and hydroxychloroquine, 2020).
Can antibiotics be effective in preventing or treating COVID-19?
Pro-Life Approved does not recommend self-medicating with any medicines, including antibiotics, to prevent or cure COVID-19. A virus causes COVID-19. Since antibiotics only fight bacterial infections, they do not treat or cure COVID-19. Antibiotics should not be used as preventative care or treatment for COVID-19. However, physicians may administer antibiotics in hospitals to prevent or treat secondary bacterial infections that may arise as a complication of COVID-19 (Sissons, 2020).
References
Bavry, A. A. (2021, June 01). Randomized Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy -
RECOVERY (Tocilizumab). Retrieved from American College of Cardiology: https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/clinical-trials/2021/05/31/00/37/recovery-tocilizumab
Chaiyachati, K. H. (2020, November 12). Dexamethasone and COVID-19: The
Randomized Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy (RECOVERY) Trial. Retrieved from Penn Medicine Physician: https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/penn-physician-blog/2020/november/dexamethasone-and-covid19
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Solidarity Trial and hydroxychloroquine. (2020,
June 19). Retrieved from World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-hydroxychloroquine
Dondorp, A. M., Hayat, M., Aryal, D., Beane, A., & Schultz, M. J. (2020, 21 April).
Respiratory Support in COVID-19 Patients, with a Focus on Resource-Limited Settings. Retrieved from PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7253105/
Pan, H., Richard, P., Karim, Q. A., Alejandria, M., Henao-Restrepo, A. M., García, C.
H.,... Swaminatha, S. (2020, December 02). Repurposed Antiviral Drugs for COVID-19 — Interim WHO Solidarity Trial Results. The New England Journal of Medicine, 384(6), 497.
Sheppard, M., Stapleton, P. P., Ha, S., & Laskou, F. (2017, September 02).
Tocilizumab (Actemra). Retrieved from PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28841363/
Sissons, B. (2020, June 24). Can antibiotics treat COVID-19 (coronavirus)? And
other treatments. Retrieved from Medical News Today: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/can-antibiotics-treat-the-coronavirus-disease
Sophia Entringer, P. ( 2021, October 19). Dexamethasone Uses, Dosage & Side
Effects. Retrieved from Drugs.com: https://www.drugs.com/dexamethasone.html
The University of Oxford. (2020, 16 June). Dexamethasone reduces death in
hospitalized patients with severe respiratory complications of COVID-19. Retrieved from University of Oxford: https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2020-06-16-dexamethasone-reduces-death-hospitalised-patients-severe-respiratory-complications