No 10 warns against taking hydroxychloroquine after Donald Trump claims he’s taking it to prevent coronavirus
NUMBER Ten has warned against the use of hydroxychloroquine after Donald Trump claimed he'd be taking it to prevent coronavirus.
The president yesterday said he'd been using the drug for a "couple of weeks" after obtaining a prescription from the White House doctor.
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Hydroxychloroquine is usually used to prevent and treatment malaria as well as a number of other conditions, as well as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) previously approved its use on hospitalised coronavirus patients when alternatives weren't available, but that the drug has not been shown to be as a treatment.
Asked about the president's comments today, a spokesperson for the prime minister told Sun Online: “It’s not something which our own medical experts are recommending.
"It’s not something we recommend doing”.
Early last month, it emerged that Trump had ordered the purchasing of 29 million doses of hydroxychloroquine.
Asked about the drug yesterday, he said: "I'm taking it, hydroxychloroquine.
"Right now. Couple of weeks ago I started taking it.
"Because I think it's good. I've heard a lot of good stories.
"And if it's not good, I'm not going to get hurt by it."
The FDA has said the drug can cause "serious" heart problems, including abnormal heart rhythms and a "dangerously rapid" heart rate, particularly among those with preexisting conditions like heart and kidney disease.
Trump continued: "I asked [the White House doctor Sean Conley], 'What do you think?'
"He said, 'Well, if you'd like it'.
"I said, 'Yeah, I'd like it. I'd like to take it."
The FDA has also reported a spike in the number of outpatient prescriptions being issued for the drug.
Dr Conley later said he and the President had discussed the potential benefits and dangers of its use.
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"After numerous discussions, he and I regarding the evidence for and against the use of hydroxychloroquine, we concluded the potential benefit from the treatment outweighed the relative risk," he said.
Last month, , his top medical advisor, during a press briefing to prevent him answering a question about the effectiveness of the drug.
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