Renowned Marseille infectious disease expert Didier Raoult advocates for chloroquine in treating COVID-19. However, he strongly cautions against self-medication, insisting that Plaquenil and related drugs require a doctor's prescription and hospital oversight.
Recent findings from a Wuhan study bolster Professor Raoult's position at the IHU Méditerranée Infection. This preliminary trial, involving about sixty patients with COVID-19, showed faster recovery with hydroxychloroquine. Note that it does not benefit severely ill patients, and broader validation is needed before widespread use.
Despite this, some individuals worldwide are self-medicating with this antimalarial without medical supervision. In a video at the article's end, Professor Raoult discusses the study and firmly opposes this dangerous practice.
Professor Raoult emphasizes that this treatment demands strict protocols with no room for improvisation. He stresses the need for an electrocardiogram and blood potassium levels, requiring hospital prescription. The National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) echoes this, recommending COVID-19 treatments only in hospital settings, ideally within clinical trials.
Self-medication with chloroquine poses significant risks. As reported by Ouest-France, France's Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Health Agency noted over a dozen hospitalizations in cardiology ICUs after self-treatment attempts. Chloroquine can trigger cardiac issues, worsened by drug interactions.
