Methylene blue seen in Covid homes...

Vadodara: Almost everyone would have come across some or another initiative through which re-usable masks, gloves, sanitizers, ayurvedic ‘kadhas’ or homeopathic arsenic album gets distributed free in the ongoing Covid-19 induced pandemic. But, appearences of methylene blue bottles outside houses of quarantined people have puzzled many.
Some residents have even started consuming it as a ‘wonder liquid’ to keep themselves safe from the dreaded infection.
“A week ago, an unknown organization simply arrived in our society and kept such bottle outside our house asking us to start taking its doses. Since, there was no mention of the supplier, the manufacturer, the doctor who prescribed it or even other literature, I got suspicious. My doctor friend warned me against its usage without doctor’s consultation,” said Kavita Vasan, a Gotri resident.
Even as the mother of a two-and-a-half-year-old kid has strictly gone by doctor’s advice, others in her society have started consuming it.
“Some of them seem to have got addicted to it. They are taking it even as they are not having any Covid symptom,” she said. Though it is not part of the Covid-19 management protocol, there are certain doctors who see a use for it.
Last year, Dr Deepak Golwalkar, a senior pulmonologist from Bhavnagar, with over four decades of clinical experience, had started advocating its use. Golwalkar’s supporters back him to the hilt. Despite several attempts, TOI could not contact Golwalkar.
Vadodara-based infectious disease specialist Dr Hiten Kareliya, however, says there is no scientific study that establishes that methylene blue is useful in Covid-19 treatment.
“During the first wave, there was much talk about it. Some had even started giving methylene blue injections. But till date there is no major, convincing scientific trial to suggest that methylene blue is beneficial even through the injection route. The question of it being beneficial through oral route does not arise,” said Kareliya.
The 100-year-old drug that was earlier used as an antimalarial drug is generally used for increasing the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity in certain medical conditions like methemoglobinemia.
“This drug is approved for methemoglobinemia. Earlier, it was used as an antiseptic or to reduce injury following viral infection. There are certain ongoing trials, but it is not yet recommended by the authorities for treatment of Covid-19 at national or global level,” said Dr Rupal Dosi, professor and head of Department of Medicine at Medical College and SSG Hospital.
“The oral solution, which is quite different from the injectables, should not be taken without any medical advice. Rather than helping it can harm you,” she said.