Patients with autoimmune deficiencies are battling to maintain hydroxychloroquine supply.
It's the same drug that's being used as a trial medicine for people who become ill from COVID-19.
CORONAVIRUS.HYDROXY-CHLOR-O-QUINE-IT'S A DRUG BEINGTESTED IN COVID-19PATIENTS.WHILE THERE'S NOEVIDENCE IT WORKS --THE DEMAND HAS LED TO ANATIONWIDE SHORTAGE.41 ACTION NEWSINVESTIGATOR JESSICAMCAMSTER SHOWS USTHE IMPACT THESHORTAGE IS HAVING ONPEOPLE WHO HAVEMEDICAL CONDITIONS ANDNEED THE DRUG.Jessica McMaster/investigativereporterHYROXYCHLORAQUINE ISCOMMONLY USED TOTREAT PEOPLE WHO HAVECERTAIN AUTOIMMUNEDISEASES.
NOT ONLY ARETHESE PATIENTS HAVINGTROUBLE FILLING THEIRPRESCRIPTIONS, WE'RETOLD, IT'S BEINGPRESCRIBED TO PEOPLE ITSHOULDN'T BE.Elizabeth Wallington,prescriptioncutdown 70 percentMy joints were really swollen.
Iwas really sorIT'S BEEN 6 YEARS SINCEELIZABETH WALLINGTONWAS DIAGNOSED WITHRHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS.WallingtI used to run marathons all thetime and I could barely walk acouple miles becauseeverything just hurt all thetime.NOW A PROFESSOAT THE ONSET OF HERILLNESS, WALLINGTONWAS WORKING TOWAHER PHD-SHE WASN'TSURE SHE'D FINISH.
BUT,THEN HER DOCTORPRESCRIBEDhydroxychloroquine.WallingtonI still workout everyday, takecare of my kids, teach collegestudents and get around justfine.WITH THE DRUG BEINGUSED EXPERIMENTALLY ONCOVID 19 PATIENTS,THERE'S NOW ANATIONWIDE SHORTAGE.WELLINGTON'S 90 DAYPRESCRIPTION-REDUCEDTO A ONE MONTH SUPPLY.Wallingtonit's just anxiety producing toknow that there's a shortage.ANOTHER WOMAN WESPOKE TO, WHO HASLUPUS, SAYS SHE'S GOFROM PHARMACY TOPHARMACY PIECINGTOGETHER ENOUGH PILLSFOR THE MONTH.Dr. Carrie Mihordin D.O.,RheumatologistI've had patients that havecalled 7 or 8 pharmacies toget their refill.DR.CARRIE MIHORDIN, ARHEUMATOLGOIST SAYSFOR SOME OF HERPATIENTS, NOT TAKING THEDRUG-IS NOT AN OPTION.Dr. Carrie Mihordin D.O.,Rheumatologistsome people haveinflammation around the liningof their heart, some peoplehave inflammation aroundtheir lungs muscles, joints thnervous system.THE 41 ACTION NEINVESTIGATORS SPOKE TOPHARMACISTS ACROSSTHE METRO.
SEVERAL toldus PART OF THE SHORTAGEIS COMING FROMDOCTORS WHOPRESCRIBE THE MEDS TOTHEMSELVES AND THEIRFAMILY MEMBERS AS APREEMPTIVE MEASURE, INCASE THEY GET COVID-19.Dr. Carrie Mihordin D.O.,Rheumatologistit's disheartening.WALLINGTON SAYS, IF THEDRUG HELPS COVID-19PATIENTS, SHE WANTTHEM TO HAVE IT.
BUT,FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'Thave the virus ..they areDRYING UP THE SUPPLYWallingtthe idea that I can't get amedicine that I need to survivbecause somebody's hopingthat it works is prettydistressing.Jessica McMasterTHE PHARMACISTS WESPOKE TO SAY, THEYREALIZED WHAT WASGOING ON WHENPHYSICIANS WOULD CALLIN A PRESCRIPTION FORTHEMSELVES AND THENCALL IN MORE FOR PEOPLEWITH THE SAME LANAME, SOME OF WHOMLIVE OUT OF STATE.
IT'SBELIEVED THE DRUG ISMOST E
Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization for hydroxychloroquine sulfate and..
It's been six years since Elizabeth Wallington Thorne was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. An athlete, who used to run..