Beginning Thursday, pharmacies, clinics, and other medical institutions in Ohio will no longer dispense or sell hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for the Coronavirus. However, clinical trials on the effectiveness of the drug will continue.
Although Trump has touted hydroxychloroquine as a possible ‘game changer’ drug in treating the Coronavirus, medical studies show “the drug to be ineffective at treating the disease. The drug may also cause serious cardiac side effects, according to the Food and Drug Administration.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in mid-June revoked an emergency authorization for hydroxychloroquine which had allowed it to be used to treat COVID-19 patients. Despite the FDA’s revocation and until now, it could technically still be used for off-label treatment of the virus in Ohio, McNamee said.
Pharmacists in Ohio found to be selling or dispensing the drug to treat COVID-19 now that it is prohibited could face disciplinary action ranging anywhere from a warning or fine to a temporary suspension of their license. But, McNamee said the action taken would depend on the situation.
“The long and short of it is, we want people to focus on what works, such as social distancing and mask use,” McNamee said. “We ultimately want to make sure people are being safe and not exposing themselves to drugs that have shown not to be effective in treating COVID-19.”
The Columbus Dispatch:
