Switch to हिंदी

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

हिंदी
  • Health A-Z
  • Home Remedies
  • Diseases
    • Type 1 Diabetes
    • Type 2 Diabetes
    • Cancer
    • Heart Attack
    • Pneumonia
    • Diseases A-Z
  • Diet & Fitness
    • Weight Management
    • Exercise & Body Building
    • Diet & Recipes
    • Yoga
  • Coronavirus
  • News
  • Pregnancy
    • Conceiving
    • Infertility
    • Labour & Delivery
    • Pregnancy week-by-week
    • Breastfeeding
    • Baby Names
  • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Hair
    • Grooming
  • Photos
  • Videos
BLA21 cibil.com ageas federal zee hindustan
Home / Health News / ICMR revises guidelines for use of hydroxychloroquine: Study says the drug can increase death risk

ICMR revises guidelines for use of hydroxychloroquine: Study says the drug can increase death risk

By bringing in the new guidelines, the ICMR has expanded the use of hydroxychloroquine as a preventive treatment against COVID-19. Meanwhile, a global study has linked the anti-malaria drug with an increased risk of serious heart problems and death.

By: Longjam Dineshwori   | | Published: May 24, 2020 11:36 am
Tags: COVID-19  Hydroxychloroquine  
malaria, Monsoon diseases, tips to avoid monsoon diseases, viral infection in monsoon, tips to avoid malaria.
Hydroxychloroquine has been highly touted as a potential treatment and prevention measure against COVID-19. © Shutterstock

Despite some studies suggesting that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is ineffective and harmful, many countries continue to use the anti-malaria drug as a preventive medication for COVID-19. Also Read - It is ‘unrealistic’ that COVID-19 pandemic would be over by 2021 end: WHO expert

US President Donald Trump and many scientists around the world still believe that hydroxychloroquine could be a potential cure for COVID-19 disease. Trump even revealed in a media briefing recently that he is taking the drug as a preventive measure against COVID-19 infection. Also Read - Bihar to get free COVID-19 vaccination, even at private hospitals: CM Nitish Kumar



On Saturday, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) also issued revised guidelines for use of hydroxychloroquine as a preventive medication for a group of asymptomatic people, especially for those who are on the frontline war against COVID-19. Also Read - COVID-19 vaccine at ₹250 too low to sustain, Companies ‘feel betrayed’: Kiran Mazumdar Shaw

As per the new guidelines, prophylactic use of HCQ is recommended for:

  • asymptomatic surveillance workers deployed in containment zones and paramilitary/police personnel involved in COVID-19 related activities
  • asymptomatic household contacts of laboratory confirmed cases
  • asymptomatic healthcare workers involved in containment and treatment of COVID-19 and working in non- COVID hospitals

The ICMR brought changes in the guidelines to expand the use of this anti-malarial drug as a preventive treatment against COVID-19.

Is it safe to use HCQ as a preventive medication for COVID-19?

The apex health research body noted that HCQ is relatively safe, when certain contra-indications are avoided. It also stated that the drug had some beneficial effect as a prophylactic option.

However, the ICMR noted that the drug should be given on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner with an informed consent.

Electrocardiogram (ECG) is a must before prescribing HCQ prophylaxis and in case any new cardiovascular symptom is detected, the drug would be made mandatory, the advisory said.

The drug is not recommended for children under 15 years of age and pregnant and lactating women, it said.

Hydroxychloroquine increases deaths: Study

Meanwhile, a global study has linked hydroxychloroquine to increased deaths in patients treated with it in hospitals around the world.

The paper, published online in the Lancet medical journal, raised concern on the use of hydroxychloroquine and its older version, chloroquine, in different continents without clinical trials.

The scientists have also warned that the drug should no longer be given to COVID-19 patients except in proper research settings.

While many claim hydroxychloroquine is safe as it has been used treating malaria for long, the study cautioned the drug can cause heart irregularities. Hydroxychloroquine is considered to be less toxic than its original version chloroquine, both used for treating malaria.

The study acknowledged that these drugs are fairly safe for patients being treated for malaria, but it said COVID-19 is a very different disease.

The authors of the paper evaluated data of more than 96,000 patients in 671 hospitals, taking one of the drugs, with or without an antibiotic such as azithromycin, between 20 December and 14 April.

As per their findings, the death rate was higher among patients taking the drugs than those who were not given the medication. The data revealed that one in six of those taking one of the drugs died. Among patients not taking the drugs, the death rate was one in 11.

Taking chloroquine with an antibiotic was found to be more deadly than taking hydroxychloroquine and an antibiotic.

The team also found that serious cardiac arrhythmias were more common in the group treated with hydroxychloroquine in combination with an antibiotic. Cardiac arrhythmias cause the lower chamber of the heart to beat rapidly and irregularly.

Published : May 24, 2020 11:36 am
Read Disclaimer

People living in urban areas at greater risk of multiple sclerosis: Blame goes to air pollution

People living in urban areas at greater risk of multiple sclerosis: Blame goes to air pollution

Know how to deal with wounds if you have diabetes

Know how to deal with wounds if you have diabetes

Please Wait. Article Loading ....

Coronavirus Updates

Coronavirus Updates

Stay Informed, Be Safe

  • It is ‘unrealistic’ that COVID-19 pandemic would be over by 2021 end: WHO expert
  • COVID-19 vaccine for variants: Pfizer, Moderna test a third ‘booster’ dose for efficacy
  • Man dies minutes after receiving second dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Maharashtra's Bhiwandi district
  • 'All private hospitals can give COVID-19 vaccines only if....': Center releases guidelines
  • Vaccine acceptance: Women in India more willing to get COVID-19 shot than those in the US

Health Calculators

BMI Calculator
bmi Calculator
Ideal Body Weight
ideal body weight
Daily Calorie Intake
Daily calorie intake
Calories Burned
calories burned

Related Stories

Vaccine acceptance: Women in India more willing to get COVID-19 shot than those in the US

Vaccine acceptance: Women in India more willing to get COVID-19 shot than those in the US

It is ‘unrealistic’ that COVID-19 pandemic would be over by 2021 end: WHO expert

It is ‘unrealistic’ that COVID-19 pandemic would be over by 2021 end: WHO expert

COVID-19 vaccine for variants: Pfizer, Moderna test a third ‘booster’ dose for efficacy

COVID-19 vaccine for variants: Pfizer, Moderna test a third ‘booster’ dose for efficacy

Co-WIN glitches leave citizens in quandary: 92 per cent unable to register for COVID-19 vaccine

Co-WIN glitches leave citizens in quandary: 92 per cent unable to register for COVID-19 vaccine

Just one shot of Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine offers over 90% protection against COVID-19

Just one shot of Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine offers over 90% protection against COVID-19

Health News in Hindi

Coronavirus Vaccine for Rheumatoid Arthritis: रूमेटाइड अर्थराइटिस के मरीजों के लिए जरूरी है कोरोना वैक्‍सीन की डोज

बच्चों के कमरे के भूलकर भी न रखें ये 5 चीजें, चोट के खतरे के साथ बहरा हो सकता है बच्चा

गर्मियों में ग्वार की फली खाने से दूर होती हैं ये 5 बीमारियां, पढ़ें किन रोगियों के लिए वरदान से कम नहीं ये सब्जी

श्रृद्धा कपूर के फिटनेस ट्रेनर ने किया खुलासा, बताया Muqabala Muqabala गाने के लिए ऐसी ट्रेनिंग ली थी श्रृद्धा ने

शरीर में इस चीज के बढ़ने से काली पड़ने लगती है आपकी किडनी, इन 6 बीमारी वाले लोगों को रहता है ज्यादा खतरा

Read All

Recent Posts

  • TV actor Kishwer Merchant announces pregnancy with husband Suyyash Rai in a beautiful post
  • Mobile use can make your kid less creative and more analytical
  • Hearing screening for newborns should be made compulsory in India: Experts
  • Man dies minutes after receiving second dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Maharashtra’s Bhiwandi district
  • World Hearing Day: Major causes of hearing loss in children

About The health Site

TheHealthSite.com is India's largest health site with more than 40 lakh unique visitors per month. We focus on fitness, beauty, health, pregnancy and more.

Most popular health and wellness website in India in 2012 at the Website of the year awards.

health@corp.india.com
+91 – 22 – 6697 1234
Landline Phone number 91 – 22 – 2490 0302.

ZEE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES LTD, 18th floor, A-Wing, Marathon Futurex, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013.

Useful Links

  • Weight Loss
  • Keto Diet Tips
  • Skin Care Tips
  • Intermittent Fasting
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Ashwagandha
  • Cancer
  • Pneumonia
  • Diarrhoea
  • Dengue
  • Typhoid
  • Tuberculosis
  • Chickenpox
  • Chikungunya
  • Depression
  • Hepatitis
  • Diabetes
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Arthritis
  • Swine Flu
  • Baby Names
  • Cough and cold
  • Heart Attack
  • Breast Cancer
  • Ebola Virus
  • Dengue
  • Malaria
  • International Yoga Day
  • Hypotension
  • Heart Failure
  • Asthma
  • Brain Tumour
  • Celebrity Fitness
  • Goitre
  • HIV/AIDS

We respect your privacy

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Author Profiles

Copyright © 2021 Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved.