Lupus pts on HCQ live longer than those that aren't. Lupus pts have much higher levels of HCQ than any COVID pt will ever have. HCQ COVID therapy is 10-days, at most. Lupus pts are on it for life. HCQ builds up in a person's body for 6 months.
The misrepresentation of HCQ by the media is impossible for me to understand.
The safety data on HCQ is robust and decades old. The complete misrepresentation of these data is mind boggling.
It is appropriate to question and debate the data on efficacy.
In fact, it is welcome.
Even better, perform your own studies, even better.
However, it is completely unacceptable that people completely misrepresent the safety data of a drug..that cannot stand.
Why would anyone lie about any drug's safety? What is their motivation? How do they sleep at night?
If you read or hear people lying about HCQ's side effects, please call them out.
Don't take my word for it.
Take every reputable rheumatology societies' word instead -
"Initial therapy — The agent that best combines safety and efficacy for the treatment of SLE is hydroxychloroquine." from UpToDate
"Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ, brand name Plaquenil) is commonly used for the long-term 2 management of a variety of chronic rheumatic diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus 3 and rheumatoid arthritis. A range of potential toxicities related to HCQ use have been reported 4 but in general the drug is well tolerated and serious toxicity is unusual" from the American College of Rheumatology
"Antimalarials are prescription drugs used along with steroids and other medications. They are used in part to reduce the dose required of the other drugs. Antimalarials are most often prescribed for skin rashes, mouth ulcers and joint pain. They also can be effective in mild forms of lupus where inflammation and blood clotting are a concern.
Antimalarials improve lupus by decreasing autoantibody production. This protects against the damaging effects of ultraviolet light from the sun and other sources and improving skin lesions.
The two types of antimalarials most often prescribed today for lupus are hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) and chloroquine (Aralen®). Unlike the rapid response seen with steroids, it may take months before antimalarial drugs improve your lupus symptoms.
Side effects from antimalarials are rare and usually mild. They include upset stomach and changes in skin color. Side effects usually go away after the body adjusts to the medication.
In high doses and over time, certain antimalarial drugs may damage the retina of the eye (retinal toxicity), causing vision problems. If low doses of antimalarials are used in the treatment of lupus, the risk of this complication is low. However, as a precaution, people treated with antimalarials should get an eye exam before or soon after starting the drug. They should also visit an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) annually.
Long term plaquenil users on high doses will need to get check-ups for eye health regularly to prevent retinal toxicity from long-term use.
Pregnant women should continue to take their antimalarial medication as prescribed to avoid a lupus flare. Although this medication can cross the placenta, the possibility of eye and ear toxicity in the infant is very low. In fact, recent studies suggest that the risk of flare for the mother is higher than the risk of harming the fetus." from the Lupus Foundation of America