Kettering Health Network is updating guidance for physicians providing treatment for COVID-19 patients. The following is based on increasing reports in the literature as well as NIH and IDSA Treatment Guidelines:
- Hydroxychloroquine: There are insufficient clinical data to recommend either for or against using chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19.
- If hydroxychloroquine is used, clinicians should monitor the patient for adverse effects, especially prolonged QTc interval.
- Pharmacy will resume dispensing hydroxychloroquine for non-COVID related conditions. Patients will not be required to bring in their home supply for chronic conditions.
- Hydroxychloroquine + Azithromycin: The Pharmacy Department completed a Drug Utilization Evaluation (DUE) and found 87% of patients receiving hydroxychloroquine for COVID treatment also received azithromycin.
- Except in the context of a clinical trial, KHN recommends against the use of the combination of hydroxychloroquine plus azithromycin because of the potential for toxicities. At present we have no access to such a trial so this combination should not be used.
- Azithromycin: There are no data to support the use of azithromycin as a single drug to treat COVID-19.
- Statins: KHN recommends against the use of statins for the treatment of COVID-19 outside of the setting of a clinical trial. If a statin is started solely for the purpose of treating COVID-19 it should be discontinued at discharge.