'No miraculous recovery': Some ICU doctors say hydroxychloroquine isn't helping sickest patients
That's because the guidance limits the drug's usage to those sick enough to be hospitalized. Many doctors suspect, however, that if the drug does turn out to be beneficial, it may work better early on in the course of the illness.
"That's the case for any therapeutic," Dr. George Diaz, an infectious disease specialist at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, Washington, said. "Generally the earlier you use it, the more effective it is."
Trump: I'm 'not a doctor' but physicians should consider hydroxychloroquineAntiviral treatments work by reducing the amount of virus in the body. They're best given early on, as symptoms are starting and the viral load is still low. For example, Tamiflu, an antiviral used to treat the flu, works better the earlier a person takes it.
"When you give it to somebody who is already super sick, it's likely not going to make an impact because the damage is already done," said Dr. Ken Lyn-Kew, a pulmonologist in the critical care department at National Jewish Health, a hospital in Denver.
At least anecdotally, a handful of critical care physicians across the country have told NBC News they've seen no evidence the drug is helping their sickest patients in intensive care.
"We've been using it," said Dr. Hugh Cassiere, a pulmonologist and medical director of Respiratory Care Services at North Shore University Hospital in Long Island, New York, a hot spot for the pandemic in the United States. "But we really haven't seen any efficacy."
"I'm not convinced it works," said Lyn-Kew, adding, "I've not seen anybody have anything near what I would call a miraculous recovery because of hydroxychloroquine."
In Louisiana, Dr. Josh Denson, a pulmonary medicine and critical care physician at the Tulane University Medical Center in New Orleans, said that "many patients do fine and tolerate it, but I don't think it's making a difference."
I've not seen anybody have anything near what I would call a miraculous recovery because of hydroxychloroquine.
"We're using it; it's all we have," Denson added. Louisiana has also been hit hard by the coronavirus, with at least 16,284 cases and 582 deaths.
New use for decades-old drug?
Hydroxychloroquine, and a related compound called chloroquine, is a medication that's been around for decades. It's used to treat malaria, as well as certain autoimmune diseases including lupus rheumatoid arthritis.
President Donald Trump and other political and corporate leaders have touted use of the medication after a few small studies suggested it might be effective against the coronavirus.
