Colchicine, a gout medicine, could reduce the risk of complications from Covid-19.
A large clinical study shows that colchicine, a powerful anti-inflammatory drug used to treat gout, reduces the risk of complications from Covid-19, announced the Montreal Heart Institute (ICM). And – 44% deaths, according to this Canadian study.
This medicine is intended for “people who have a gout attack. So it’s not their DMARD, but it’s sold occasionally to people who need it and it’s prescribed by the doctor, “Zineb El explained. Kharaj, titular pharmacist at the Chartreux pharmacy.
The pharmacist fears pressure from some customers to obtain the product without a prescription. “We stay sure our guards. At the moment, this is something that is sold under prescription. So, until proven otherwise, patients will not go through the pharmacy box first. They will first go to their doctor“, said Zineb El Kharaj.
The doctor is free to prescribe the drug to a patient with covid, but the caregiver assumes full responsibility for it. “Like any drug in Belgium, the doctor can decide to prescribe an off-label drug. The only difference for him is that he takes full responsibility for any side effects that might develop.“, said Philippe Devos, president of the Belgian doctors’ union (Absym).
Only the Federal Medicines Agency can validate the use of colchicine against covid. It mobilizes its experts on this drug. We still have to wait for the official publication of the Canadian study. Otherwise, it is not recommended for the moment to prescribe this medication to patients. covid.
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