Fact Check: Did some studies of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 poison the patients with 10 grams of hydroxychloroquine?

Fact-Check: Did Some Studies of Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 Poison the Patients with 10 Grams of Hydroxychloroquine?

What We Know

The claim that some studies of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for COVID-19 involved administering 10 grams of the drug, leading to poisoning, is not substantiated by credible evidence. Hydroxychloroquine is known to have a narrow therapeutic window, and acute toxicity can occur with overdoses, but the typical dosages used in clinical studies were significantly lower than 10 grams.

1. According to a review on acute chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine toxicity, the therapeutic range for chloroquine is narrow, and acute severe toxicity is associated with dosages typically in the range of 10-30% mortality, but this does not imply that studies administered such high doses.
2. In clinical trials, hydroxychloroquine was often administered in doses of 600 mg on the first day followed by 400 mg daily for a median of 5 days, as noted in an observational study conducted in New York City.
3. The maximum doses used in studies were well below the toxic levels that would lead to severe poisoning. For instance, the National Institutes of Health indicated that the dosing regimens were designed to assess efficacy rather than to induce toxicity.

Analysis

The assertion that studies poisoned patients with 10 grams of hydroxychloroquine lacks credible support and appears to be a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of the data surrounding hydroxychloroquine use in COVID-19 treatment.

• The acute toxicity review indicates that while hydroxychloroquine can lead to significant toxicity, especially in cases of overdose, the typical clinical use does not approach the levels that would cause acute poisoning. The review highlights that severe toxicity is rare and usually occurs in cases of misuse or overdose.
• The observational study from New York City found no significant association between hydroxychloroquine use and increased risk of intubation or death, suggesting that the drug was administered safely within the studied population's therapeutic range (observational study).
• Furthermore, the meta-analysis of hydroxychloroquine's effects on mortality rates in COVID-19 patients did not report any incidents of poisoning due to the drug, reinforcing the idea that the dosages used were within safe limits.

The sources used for this analysis are credible and peer-reviewed, with the studies being conducted by reputable institutions and published in well-regarded medical journals.

Conclusion

The claim that studies of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 poisoned patients with 10 grams of the drug is False. The dosages used in clinical studies were significantly lower than 10 grams, and there is no evidence to suggest that such high doses were administered in any reputable clinical trial. The understanding of hydroxychloroquine's toxicity indicates that while it can be dangerous in overdose situations, the therapeutic doses used in studies were designed to avoid such risks.

Sources

1. Acute chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine toxicity
2. Observational Study of Hydroxychloroquine in Hospitalized Patients
3. Chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine and COVID-19
4. Mortality outcomes with hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine in COVID-19
5. When COVID-19 prophylaxis leads to hydroxychloroquine overdose
6. Effect of Hydroxychloroquine in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19
7. Cardiac Toxicity of Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19
8. Concentration-dependent mortality of chloroquine in overdose