Lupus Foundation to TT: Don't take our drugs

THE Voice of Lupus Foundation is appealing to people not to hoard their life-saving medication, which, if taken without proper guidance, can lead to further health problems.

On Monday Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh begged the public not to hoard the drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine and for those who were hoarding them to return them.

Newsday spoke with founder of the Lupus Foundation Reanna Harrilal, who also called on people not to hoard their drugs.

“People don’t know that taking these drugs is committing suicide because of the side effects, such as loss of sight, colour blindness. They can become anaemic, or end up with liver toxicity or psoriasis.”

Harrilal said while she applauds the suggestion to return the drugs for those for  whom they were intended, she questioned how the drugs sold to them in the first place, as they are prescription-only medication.

Questioned about this, president of the Pharmacy Board Andrew Rahaman said while this is true, a lot of drugs sold are prescription-only and if pharmacists were to adhere to this, then many people would have to visit a doctor monthly.

“We are now looking to enforce this for this drug so that it can go to those who need it.

“But there are a lot of drugs that are on the list of prescription-only that if we were to enforce it people will either be paying private doctors monthly or spending half-day at the hospital for drugs. Ibuprofen: higher than 600 mg, you need a prescription for that. If we were to be strict, then if you have a headache and Panadol does not work, you will have to see a doctor.”

Asked about the return of the drugs by those who had  already bought them, as the Health Minister suggested, he said that is “not good practice” as it poses a major safety concern.

Both drugs have been used in the US to treat covid19, reportedly with good results, which Deyalsingh called anecdotal results. There is no study to prove that the drug actually work to treat covid19. There is now an increased demand for them, given the use in the US.

Rahaman echoed the sentiments of Harrilal that the side effects of the drugs are worse than having covid19, which has a global death rate of less than three per cent.

He added that as well as pharmacies insisting that customers produce prescriptions for chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, he is calling on people not to come asking for them, saying both demand and supply must be reduced.