In this read, let’s talk about Spring Allergies and Updates on Treatments for Covid-19.
Thank You and Updates
I want to take the opportunity today to acknowledge the hard work that all of you are doing to support your team members in your companies and communities. Some of you have reached out on Social Media to offer challenges and even blueprints of how to build a ventilator (Medtronic). Others are working with friends to create the bed capacity we will need (hopefully never) once we start to see overflow in our local hospitals. Others are donating to local hospitals and charities.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO ALWAYS, AND SO MUCH MORE YOU ARE DOING NOW!
Spring Allergies
It’s April 1st. The birds are chirping and I’m sneezing. OOPS! Do I have Covid-19? That is the worry as I have the worst of all allergy symptoms from April to June.
Spring Allergy Symptoms COMPARED TO Covid-19 Symptoms:
To avoid confusion this Spring Season, please take the following steps now to avoid getting any symptoms:
- Purchase your antihistamine – get enough for 60 days – START TO TAKE THEM NOW
- If you historically get:
- Itchy red eyes – buy at the drug store – it’s over the counter: Opticrom
- Congested and stuffy – add any decongestant – I like using this SINUS only non drowsy for the day
- For wheezing – you may need a puffer Rx – let us get that for you now
BUT, if you find that the above doesn’t always do the trick, DON’T SUFFER this year. I don’t want you to have any of the above symptoms and would like to avoid the confusion with Covid-19. - There is also a drug Rx called Singulair. I take this too!
Update on Medications for Treatment of Covid-19
This is a summary to advise you on the understanding, based on objective science at the present time. The full document is available here.
Information on these drugs has rapidly evolved due to ongoing research. There have been many debates with regards to the uses of these drugs, primarily due to varying approaches used in different facilities. Our main goal is to keep you informed in a timely manner. Here are some of the updates.
DRUGS:
Generic Name: Chloroquine
Approved Use and Function: Prevention and treatment for Malaria, treatment for auto-immune illness.
Update: Efficacy of Chloroquine for treatment and prevention of COVID-19 has not been established. Additional data is needed to substantiate initial reports of efficacy and identify optimal dose and duration of treatment.
Generic Name: Hydroxychloroquine
Approved Use and Function: Prevention and treatment for Malaria and Lupus.
Update: Efficacy of Hydroxychloroquine for treatment and prevention of COVID-19 has not been established. Additional data is needed to substantiate initial reports of efficacy and identify optimal dose and duration of treatment. Hydroxychloroquine has been suggested as a possible option and is included in some guidelines for treatment of COVID-19.
Generic Name: Azithromycin (Z-pak)
Approved Use and Function: Antibacterial with some activity against some viruses; has anti-inflammatory effects. Used to treat a wide variety of infections, including respiratory conditions.
Update: Current data is insufficient to establish pros and cons of its use in the management of COVID-19. Additional data is needed before any conclusions can be made regarding possible benefits of using a combined regimen of Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin in patients with COVID-19. Caution is also advised if considering the use of both drugs in patients with chronic medical conditions like renal failure and liver diseases, as well as for those using drugs that may cause irregular heart beats (arrhythmias).
Generic Name: Ibuprofen
Brand Name: Advil, Motrin
Approved Use and Function: Pain Killer
Update: On March 19, 2020, the FDA issued a statement that it is not aware of scientific evidence connecting the use of Ibuprofen with worsening COVID-19 symptoms. The FDA stated that it is investigating this issue further and will communicate publicly when more information is available. Therefore, there is currently no compelling evidence to support an association between Ibuprofen and negative outcomes in patients with COVID-19.
BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATIONS:
Certain blood pressure lowering medications, such as the following, are often recommended for people living with diabetes to protect them from kidney and heart-related complications, even in the absence of high blood pressure.
- Capoten (Captopril)
- Vasotec (Enalapril)
- Prinivil, Zestril (Lisinopril)
- Lotensin (Benazepril)
- Monopril (Fosinopril)
- Altace (Ramipril)
- Accupril (Quinapril)
- Aceon (Perindopril)
- Candesartan (Atacand)
- Eprosartan (Teveten)
- Irbesartan (Avapro)
- Telmisartan (Micardis)
- Valsartan (Diovan, Prexxartan)
Update: American Heart Association (AHA), American College of Cardiology (ACC), Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), and European Society of Cardiology (ESC) recommend to continue treatment with these BP medications for those who are currently prescribed such agents.
Patients with cardiovascular disease are at an increased risk of serious COVID-19 infections.
SUPPLEMENTS:
Generic Name: Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
Approved Use and Function: General supplement needed by the body for numerous physiologic reactions. May support host defenses against infection and protect the host cells against infection induced oxidative stress.
Update: Current data not specific to COVID-19; additional studies need to be done to prove its usefulness in treating the disease.
Thanks for reaching out to us and do stay in touch. Almost all of you are home. If you are still staying in the United States, I really pray for you. They have really messed up. All States will be impacted. They have not taken all the proactive steps that were necessary weeks ago. Nor are many still heeding the warnings to stay home. Their hospitals will look like war zones. We will now watch the death carnage south of us. Unfortunately, some of the victims will be colleagues and friends we know.
Today, I’m extremely thankful that we have a co-ordinated healthcare system in Canada. We have taken our best efforts so far and our Canadian communities are doing their share to help by staying home and supporting each other.
Take care and we will be in touch again soon.
