Hydroxychloroquine is a drug that is usually used to treat malaria, lupus erythematosus and other rheumatoid conditions like arthritis, according to the National Institute of Health. In various studies, this drug was used to demonstrate antiviral activity in order to modify the immune system’s activity. This drug is very strong even with short term use, it can cause severe side effects like seizures, dermatological reactions, and hypoglycemia. Lately, there has been a hashtag on Twitter surrounding this drug, “#hydroxychloroquine” because there’s a hypothesis that it may be useful in treating COVID-19. When hydroxychloroquine was first introduced in the possibility of curing the symptoms of COVID-19, many people were skeptical but many were in favor of it.
A few people shared positive information in regards to the drug that it helped cure some of their families and friends that had coronavirus:
Good news …. my relative who was in ICU / #COVID19 isolation is off the ventilator and texting family members that she's doing well. Doctors treated her with #Hydroxychloroquine and #Azithromycin. This is my 67-year-old aunt in Michigan who has long been immunosuppressed. https://t.co/t6lIeDicnn
— David Martosko (@dmartosko) April 12, 2020
#hydroxychloroquine Brother in hospital w/pos. Covid test. Very sick with Dbl pneumonia. Doc was resistant for HCQ. Asked if we were Repub or Dem! Why make this political?? Brother got drugs. Immed. response w/no fever in 24 hrs. Healed & coming home
— HeIsRisen (@sydwld) April 13, 2020
New York net ICU admissions was negative yesterday. More patients were discharged than admitted. This can only be explained by the use of #Hydroxychloroquine. Look at that drop starting April 4th. Hmm…about 5-6 days after the hydroxychloroquine was used en mass in NYC. pic.twitter.com/Baj39QiYV0
— Mad_Papooser (@MPapooser) April 11, 2020
Others had a negative view of the drug and were more upset that President Trump was helping to fund the drug for COVID-19 patients. Those that needed the drug to help with underlining conditions, like lupus erythematosus, now had limited access due to the high demand.
I'm a Lupus patient frightened I may not get my next refill of #hydroxychloroquine because President Trump is selling drugs to FUND his Presidential campaign.
Listen to #DworkinReporthttps://t.co/rbsXQ1IOUZ
— Peter Morley (@morethanmySLE) April 10, 2020
⚠️The @CIA has warned its workforce that taking the anti-malarial drug #Hydroxychloroquine—hawked by @realDonaldTrump and cronies as a promising treatment for #coronavirus—can cause dangerous side effects, including sudden DEATH.@thespybrief #COVID19https://t.co/dv7w2JEqda
— Dr. Dena Grayson (@DrDenaGrayson) April 14, 2020
.@realDonaldTrump’s bold gamble on #hydroxychloroquine appears to be paying off. NY med professionals tell @JudicialWatch docs battling pandemic are increasingly reporting benefits from drug-prescribing it for themselves,patients,and frontline personnel.https://t.co/tYjeYqvAxc https://t.co/w6zhxisVc0
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) April 14, 2020
Overall, it is still unknown if hydroxychloroquine is COVID-19’s cure.