Source: News Max Author: By Brian Trusdell Photo: Getty
The anti-malarial drug promoted by the US President as a treatment for COVID-19 — and derided by his critics — has been found to help outpatients with the disease, a new peer-reviewed study says.
Only 3% of patients that took hydroxychloroquine along with zinc and the antibiotic azithromycin were hospitalized compared to 15% who did not take it, according to the study published in the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents.
The study comes following a summer of rancor over the drug. Trump hailed it a potential cure and said this spring he was taking it as a prophylactic, or preventive, medicine.
Others, including “Hawaii 5-0” actor Daniel Dae Kim and Michigan state legislator Rep. Karen Whitsett, hailed the drug as saving their lives.
The British medical journal The Lancet published a story saying the drug was potentially toxic, then withdrew it because the data was fraudulent.
Advocates for hydroxychloroquine claim it might not be effective for patients already hospitalized, but those with milder symptoms could benefit, the Washington Examiner reported.
Hydroxychloroquine cocktail saves lives of high-risk Covid-19 patients
HCQ is effective for COVID-19 when used early: analysis of 132 studies