Drug repurposing for COVID-19: a potential threat of self-medication and controlling measures

Nigerian health authorities have already issued several warnings amid CQ poisoning, which immediately occurred after the media reports. 6 It must be noted that Nigeria is endemic for Malaria, and shortage of CQ or HCQ may result in another parasitic catastrophe. [...]sudden interest in HCQ has led to reports of shortages for patients who rely on the drug to treat their autoimmune diseases that could place these patients at risk for severe and even life-threatening flares; some may require hospitalisation when hospitals are already at capacity. 6 7 Both CQ and HCQ have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under emergency use authorization and subsequently advocated by the Indian Council for Medical Research. Furthermore, overdose of these drugs is hazardous and difficult to treat. 3 Recent recommendations of FDA limit the use of these drugs in hospital setting to treat COVID-19 in adults and adolescents who weigh at least 50 kg and are not able to participate in clinical trials. [...]FDA also insisted to obtain these drugs from the national stockpile to protect the supply for other patients who have relied on the drugs for years to control autoimmune diseases including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. [...]there is no enough evidence to claim this drug is safe for pregnant women. 10 Azithromycin is another repurposed drug, which is easily accessible at community level and can be self-medicated alone or in combination with HCQ. Even 0.1% drug-associated complications would be thousands in number, which will be difficult to cope by healthcare system currently engaged to combat the COVID-19. [...]increased demand for these drugs by the general public may halt the supply and availability of these agents for their approved indications and may also relate to price gouging.