The World Health Organisation has issued an advisory over the use of two medicines by those who contract mild symptoms of Covid-19.
The drugs mentioned in the warning are an antidepressant under the name fluvoxamine and the gout drug colchicine.
According to the WHO, these are no longer recommended for patients with mild or moderate Covid-19 due to insufficient evidence that they help in the recovery of patients.
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There are also fears that these medications could potentially cause harm, according to a WHO Guideline Development Group panel consisting of international experts.
Despite the warning for those with mild or moderate Covid, there is no recommendation for either medicine in people with a severe or critical illness - which is again down to limited data.
Fluvoxamine and colchicine are commonly used, cheap drugs that have been considered potential Covid-19 treatments.
Today's recommendations are part of a living guideline, developed by the World Health Organization with the methodological support of MAGIC Evidence Ecosystem Foundation, to provide up-to-date guidance on the treatment of Covid-19 patients and to help doctors make the best decisions for their patients.
Living guidelines allow researchers to update previously vetted or peer-reviewed evidence summaries as new information becomes available as the Covid-19 virus continues to spread.
Cases continue to rise in Ireland, and the current advice from the HSE is that the best medicines to use will depend on your:
- symptoms
- other medical conditions
- any other medication you're taking
“Paracetamol or ibuprofen may help to lower your temperature and treat aches and pains. Paracetamol is usually recommended as the first-line of treatment for most people.”
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