25 lakh HCQ tablets distributed in Karnataka; 18 lakh in stock

Sunitha Rao R | TNN | May 5, 2020, 06:48 IST

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BENGALURU: The Karnataka government has so far distributed 25 lakh tablets of prophylactic drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to frontline workers, including police personnel, and has 18 lakh more in stock, Dr Om Prakash Patil, director, health and family welfare department, said.
The use of the prophylactic drug is said to be more in districts like Bengaluru, Mysuru, Kalaburagi, Belagavi, Vijayapura and Dakshina Kannada. With the gradual relaxation of the lockdown, its usage is all set to increase, say health department officials.
The tablets are now given to ambulance staff, police, contacts of patients, those working in containment zones and healthcare staff in Covid-19 wards of private hospitals and medical colleges. The drug can be taken by senior citizens in consultation with specialists. It is not advisable for those aged below 15 years.
Some complain of side-effects
The anti-malarial drug taken once in a week for three to seven weeks depending on doctors’ advice has its sideeffects. The Indian Council of Medical Research launched a study which found that 10% of healthcare workers (average age of 35) who took these drugs reported abdominal pain, 6% had nausea and 1.3% complained of hypoglycemia. However, the health department said no such complaint has been received. “We’ve not heard of side-effects reported because of HCQ consumption,” Dr Patil said.
There’s no clarity on the total number of persons who are using prophylaxis. “The data is being collated from all districts,” said health officials.
Healthcare staff in government hospitals are also advised to take the medicine once a week. But some staff who have diabetes and cardiovascular risks are not using it.
“In our hospital, over 90% of the staff are using HCQs. Those who are not taking the drug because of health issues are not working anywhere close to the isolation ward,” said Dr C Nagaraja, director, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases.
Healthcare staff TOI spoke to, however, complained of experiencing fatigue. “‘The fatigue we are facing could be multifactorial. Apart from HCQ, PPEs we wear and psychological stress might be adding up,” said a nurse.