Do I want hydroxychloroquine if I have COVID-19?

There is a lot of debate about whether doctors should treat people with COVID-19 with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). I looked at the literature to see what the research shows. The grand conclusion is that we need more research, preferably as rigorous studies. Why?

A review of the research from April, 2020 (Sarma et al., 2020) identified just 5 studies that looked at curing COVID-19 with HCQ. Of those 5 studies, one study of people with COVID-19 compared outcomes for 15 people treated with HCQ to 15 people not given HCQ (Jun et al., 2020 as cited by Sarma et al., 2020). They found no difference in viral cure between the two groups. Another study cited (Gautret, et al., 2020 as cited by by Sarma et al., 2020) found that someone died after being cured of COVID-19.

Because we are still uncertain of side effects AND there have been some serious side effects for people receiving HCQ in these studies (ICU, death), the only people with COVID-19 who should be treated with HCQ are those who agree to be in a clinical trial or a research study.

Sarma P, Kaur H, Kumar H, Mahendru D, Avti P, Bhattacharyya A, Prajapat M, Shekhar N, Kumar S, Singh R, Singh A, Dhibar DP, Prakash A, Medhi B. (2020). Virological and clinical cure in COVID-19 patients treated with hydroxychloroquine: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Medical Virology, April. doi: 10.1002/jmv.25898.