Health Ministry’s new Covid-19 treatment plan drops Favipiravir, cuts Remdesivir to size

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The Health Ministry has dropped medicines such as favipiravir and doxycycline from its list of treatment for Covid-19 and recommended only limited use of the controversial drug Remdesivir which had become a craze at one point to treat coronavirus patients.</p>
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"Physicians are advised to exercise extreme caution in using remdesivir as this is only an experimental drug with potential to harm," the new evidence-based treatment plan on the directorate general of health (DGHS) states.</p>
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For mild Covid-19 cases only simple medicines to reduce fever and cough have been recommended with self-monitoring for fever, breathlessness and oxygen saturation (SpO2). In asymptomatic cases, the revised guidelines have said no medication is required.</p>
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<strong>Also read:</strong>  <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/latest-news/india-gets-l-favipiravir-l-remdesivir-in-foreign-aid-90489.html">India gets 12L Favipiravir, 6.9L Remdesivir in foreign aid</a></p>
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Antibiotics such as azithromycin and doxycycline which were rampantly being used until now have not been mentioned in the new treatment plan.</p>
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Similarly, zinc supplements and vitamins A, B, C and D do not figure on the list. The earlier treatment protocol had included a 15 to 30 days course of zinc supplements vitamin C and D.</p>
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<strong>Steroids</strong></p>
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The guidelines make it clear that medicines such as steroids should be used only for moderate or severe Covid-19 patients who need hospitalisation.</p>
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"Steroids are indicated in only hospitalized moderately severe and critically ill Covid-19 cases. Steroids should be used at the right time, in the  right dose and for the right duration. Self-medication of steroids must be avoided," the health ministry said.</p>
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<strong>Also read:</strong>  <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/latest-news/portugal-donates-units-of-remdesivir-to-india-89257.html">Portugal donates 5,500 units of Remdesivir to India</a></p>
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<strong>Tocilizumab</strong></p>
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About the use of Tocilizumab, the revised guidelines said, "Tocilizumab is an immunosuppressant drug and it has been approved by DCG (I) for use as an off- abel drug only in severe and critically ill patients of Covid-19."</p>
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Anticoagulants are drugs that reduce blood clotting but are to be given only in moderate to severe cases of Covid-19 and only on the prescription of a doctor, the guidelines state.</p>
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However, there seems to some confusion about the new directives at the moment as the Indian Council for Medical Research, the country's leading health agency in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, has not yet approved them.</p>
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The ministry's latest guidelines also emphasize the need for Covid-19 appropriate behaviour like using masks, hand sanitisers and maintaining social distancing.The health ministry also advised people to seek teleconsultations on experiencing Covid-19 symptoms.</p>