RE:RE:RE:RE:WHO & The HCQ Quattro74 wrote: Hempdoc wrote: And giving such high doses at a more advanced stage of the illness is both irresponsible & inhumane imo.
Correct me please Doc,
HCQ is best given when symptoms first appear. To both block further entry into non infected cells, lowering viral load. And to suppress the immune system, which HCQ/Quinine do in larger doses, to lessen the cytokline storm. And this is just HCQ, not taking into account what Zn and Zpac bring? The idea that WHO is now against this makes me want to drive to Mexico and get some.
Well said Quattro...
IMO, HCQ will provide most benefit if used early or as a component of prophylaxis.
HCQ is a weak base & this allows it to alkalinize (raise the pH) of acidic organelles (structures inside each cell that contain degrading enzymes). This helps reduce viral replication. Certainly, HCQ also reduces pro-inflammatory chemicals (called cytokines like IL-6) which participate in the cytokine storm that can occur in severely ill patients. There are other more specific cytokine inhibitors (IL-6 inhibitors) that may work at least as well as HCQ against this storm (w/o the risks associated with high-dose HCQ). There are also studies looking at lower-dose IL-6 given during less severe stages of illness which may also prove promising. The jury is still out until we have more data re: the ideal/preferred drug, dosage & timing of dosage.
So I think early use of HCQ will not only help prevent/treat cellular infection by the virus, but will also modulate the immune system to help prevent a cytokine storm from happening in the first place, or if given early enough during a storm, be more effective in reducing its progression. IMO, high-dose HCQ given too late during a cytokine storm may increase cardiac events/toxicity & actually worsen one's s chances of survival. This is not medical advice, but my guess is the best management would include lower-dose HCQ with Zinc + Azithromycin as outpatient therapy or immediately upon hospital admission. For the more critically ill (or those with lab-determined elevation of cytokines), I would take full advantage of both specific cytokine inhibitors (IL-6 inhibitor) & general cytokine inhibition (w/preferably synergistic use of lower-dose HCQ ), other anti-virals (Remdesivir) & supportive care.