Medication for COVID-19 – Crucial words to
know.
Today millions of people are in hospitals
and more than them are the loved ones waiting at homes with full hope that they
will come back, soon fit and fine. He believes on doctors, on health care
workers, and looks with hopeful eyes at every single person wearing hospital
uniform going across his bed, that they will save him any how, that now he will
be alright in a few days as he got hospitalized.
The most overwhelming words and unlimited
belief on them in today’s era are HOSPITAL, DOCTOR, and MEDICINE. Yes,
hospitals and doctors are doing their best. But how do the medicines work?
Here
comes the word medicine the most crucial part that truly runs in the human body
to modify the function and fight against COVID-19. Though there are many drugs
like antibiotics, antidepressants etc prescribed by doctors nowadays but most
famous out of them are:
REMDESIVIR,
CASIRIVIMAB & IMEDEVIMAB, and STEROIDS.
REMDESIVIR :-
Brand name - Veklury.
Developed by – Gilead Sciences.
Remdesivir is an anti-viral drug. It is
given only through injection directly in veins that is intravenous nucleotide.
The medication type got full approval from the Food and Drug Administration[FDA] to practice on COVID-19 patients as it is proven to be effective in
recovery at faster rate. Also received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). The
medication is approved only for the treatment of those patients who are
hospitalized and is strictly not to be used at home without or with the
prescription of a physician.
The injection is given in vein once daily
for 5-10 days or as prescribed by the doctor. The patients already suffering
with some kind of kidney or liver diseases should be considered and examined
before giving the remdesivir medication. It is only meant for moderate to
severe infective patients and is not given to asymptomatic or symptomatic with
mild symptoms types of patients in any condition. Till now it is not predicted
that is the medication effective and safe for pregnant women and infants.
Tests needed to be done before having
remdesivir:
Kidney and liver functionality, Blood
mineral levels and blood cell count.
Side effects:
·
Low blood pressure.
·
Nausea.
·
Sweating.
·
Shivering.
·
Vomiting.
·
Gastrointestinal problems.
· And hypersensitivity as well.
Also read : Covid-19 : Symptoms, effects and precuation
CASIRIVIMAB & IMEDEVIMAB:-
Brand name – REGEN-COV2.
Developed by – Regeneron
Pharmaceuticals.
Casirivimab & Imedevimab is an antibody
cocktail of both drugs. Both the drugs are given together through a single
injection intravenously. Well it is basically an under investigation
artificially developed drug that is still studies are going through it so as to
understand the medication in clearer way. Although the drug got permission for
use in emergency conditions by Food and Drug Administration and still remains
unapproved by the authorization. Hence, received Emergency Use Authorization.
The medication could be given to mild to
moderate infective patients only on one condition, if they show high risks of
developing the infection severely. It could be prescribed for non-hospitalized
patients who are isolated at homes or at other health care units. Those
patients who are pregnant or have recently gave birth to baby should give full
details about their health to the doctor before such type of prescription.
General side effects:-
·
Fever or chills.
·
Swelling of lips or throat.
·
Muscle ache.
·
Headache.
·
Nausea.
·
Weakness.
Worsening side effects:-
·
Fever.
·
Difficulty in breathing.
·
Slow or fast heartbeat.
·
Much tiredness or weakness.
If the above mentioned
general side effects continue for long time or any of the worsening side
effects arise than seek for medical help as soon as possible.
Since, still the type of medication is under modification; therefore
it could have for types of side effects other then listed.
Also read : What is Oxygen saturation level? How to maintain it
STEROIDS:-
Corticosteroids are preferred for COVID-19 patients. Basically,
steroids are prescribed for anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant effects.
But in this very case of COVID-19 they are found to be very beneficial for
critically ill patients. They are sold under different brand names.
The steroids could be given orally in the form of a medicine or
could be injected intravenously in human body. They should be only given to the
patients who are severely infected as recommended by World Health Organization
[WHO].
Some of the steroids are listed which are prescribed for Covid
patients:-
·
Dexamethasone [6mg].
·
Hydrocortisone [160mg].
·
Predinisone [40mg].
·
Methyl predinisolone [32mg].
Any infective person at
their early stages should not be prescribed with these medicines as they can
worsen up the infection by allowing other bacterial multiplication in lungs. While
on other hand they can do wonders when given in critical or severe infection.
Also, diabetic patients
could adverse effects of steroids on their body.
This is a small step to help someone and get them knowledge about
the basic terms or medicines that they purchase while standing in queues and
waiting for the drug in its shortage. Many of them may have side effects other
then given as every human body differ by 0.1% of their DNA. Therefore at any
point of un-wellness after the consumption of any type of drug one should seek
medical help as soon as possible.
Disclaimer : The information given above is
given only to increase your knowledge, so it does not confirm its accuracy nor
motivate you to take it without doctor’s advice .Do not take these medicines
without doctor’s advice
Be safe. Be healthy. Be at home.