The government on Saturday included the use of dexamethasone, a corticosteroid drug, in the treatment protocols for COVID-19 patients in moderate to severe cases.
An updated clinical management protocol was released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for managing the coronavirus cases in the country, which includes the advice to use dexamethasone as an alternative to methylprednisolone.
As the knowledge about coronavirus continues to increase, the change was suggested after considering the latest available evidence and expert consultation.
Dexamethasone is used for its anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant properties and is prescribed in a wide range of conditions. It has been tested on COVID-19 patients in clinical trial and was found to be effective on those who are critically ill.
Trials have shown that the mortality was reduced to about one third for patients on ventilators, and by about one fifth for patients on oxygen therapy. The drug is also a part of the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM). It is also widely available.
The updated protocol has been forwarded to all states and UTs to make necessary arrangements for availability and use of the updated protocol and dexamethasone at the institutional level as well.
On June 14, the Union Health Ministry said that antiviral drug Remdesivir has been included as an "investigational therapy" only for restricted emergency use on COVID-19 patients.
The ministry shared the updated Clinical Management Protocol for COVID-19, in which the drug Remdesivir was included as an "investigational therapy" only for restricted emergency use purposes along with off label use of Tocilizumab and Convalescent Plasma.