What is hcq?

If you’ve been living under a rock, or if your daily news intake consists only of “trending” hashtags on Twitter, you may have missed the great hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) debate that has taken the medical world by storm. So what exactly is this magical drug everyone’s talking about? Let’s dig in.

The basics

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is an anti-malaria drug that was first approved for use in the United States in 1955. Since then, it has also become widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. It works by slowing down or stopping certain immune system processes that can cause inflammation.

The controversy

Over the past few months, HCQ has found itself at the center of a heated political and scientific debate surrounding its potential to treat COVID-19. Some clinical trials suggested it could be beneficial, while others showed little or no effect at all – but regardless, people on both sides seemed pretty convinced they were right.

Side effects

One argument against using HCQ as a coronavirus cure-all was concern over its side effects. While taking any medication comes with some level of risk, some studies suggested that HCQ could increase a person’s likelihood of experiencing heart problems such as cardiac arrhythmias.

However,most common adverse reactions associated with chloroquine are nausea , vomiting and diarrhea.So maybe instead we should take our chances with Covid?!

Politics & misinformation

The fervor around HCQ became even more intense when politicians started weighing in on its efficacy based solely upon their layman understanding! However impartial fact-checks indicated time and again questioned substantiated claims made by politicians which clearly proved they did not have scientific knowledge necessary (surprise!)

Studies

There have been numerous reports released discussing various aspects of Hydroxychloroquin one never-ending cacophony!

Studies prove nothing

Some studies showed that HCQ could be effective in treating COVID-19, while others did not show a significant difference between patients who received the medication and those who received a placebo. However, it is important to note that these studies vary greatly in their design and execution and maybe we need larger scale clinical trials? Just saying!

Too many cooks

Another issue with the multitude of studies out there is difficulty synthesizing them into one cohesive recommendation. Without a direct comparison through multiple replicable studies trying to pool all data is like mixing up various unidentified stewed components within your fridge for dinner.

Current use

Despite ongoing debates around its efficacy Hcq has been authorized by some nations such as India and Brazil for widespread use as treatment for Covid -19.
In conclusion folks Hydroxychloroquine may or may not have curative effects on Covid 19 but be sure about one thing-there are definite side-effects plus politicians really should stick to what they’re meant to do: solicit votes!
Stay safe everyone!

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