Treatments

A: We are learning more and more as the pandemic continues, but there are still lots of questions. For now, remdesivir appears to help you feel better faster (but maybe doesn’t help people live longer), corticosteroids for really sick people definitely help people live longer but aren’t useful for people with mild symptoms, tocilizumab is Read more…

A: It’s been a minute since we updated you about COVID-19 treatments. This will take a couple of posts, but let’s start with patients who do not need to be hospitalized (called outpatients or ambulatory patients). There are still more questions than answers, but let’s go through the evidence. In short, the bamlanivimab/etesevimab combo may Read more…

A: New clues are hopeful! Alas we can’t yet declare “case closed.” New data out of Oxford suggest that the inhaled drug budesonide* may greatly reduce hospitalization risk for COVID-19 patients when used within one week of symptom onset. As noted in the press release: “The 28-day study of 146 patients suggested that inhaled budesonide Read more…

Q: I’m seeing chatter around a study re: melatonin and COVID-19 prevention and recovery. Should we be taking melatonin every night? What’s an appropriate amount to avoid disrupting our sleep hormones TOO much and having a dose that might actually help?” A: TL;DR: Sufficient restorative sleep is essential for a healthy immune system. Melatonin, which Read more…

A: As many places see a significant surge in COVID19 cases, hospitals and resources become strained. Crisis standards of care represent a big change from usual healthcare made necessary by a major disaster. ➡️So, what does that actually mean? Crisis standards help guide decisions that must be made in extreme scarcity of resources (including staff, Read more…

A: Currently, the evidence is not yet clear, and we need lots more data. The FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for bamlanivimab use in non-hospitalized patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 on November 9th. Bamlanivimab is a neutralizing monoclonal antibody that targets the spike protein on the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The goal of neutralizing Read more…

A: Taking care of yourself and focusing on getting better is priority #1! Get rest, stay hydrated, isolate physically but connect emotionally, and watch out for warning signs. COVID19 is widespread and more and more folks are getting sick. Now is a good time to remind ourselves of the basics of self-care when diagnosed with Read more…

Q: We’re entering the season where I typically give it to my family as a flu prevention, but I’ve read that it can aggravate some COVID symptoms.” A: No scientific studies have been done using elderberry syrup to prevent or treat COVID-19. Similarly, there has been no information on whether elderberry syrup has negative impacts Read more…

A: Not currently. But there’s hope in the clinical trial pipeline. For many viral diseases, treatment with a prescribed “post-exposure prophylaxis” (PEP) can block an exposure from developing into a full-blown infection. Tamiflu is perhaps the best-known example. TL;DR about PEP prospects for COVID-19: ✔️ Several older drugs repurposed for COVID-19 PEP have failed in Read more…

A: Not quite. The drugs that Donald Trump received after contracting COVID-19 are either still in clinical trials or available in limited quantities for people with serious infections. Trump received a level of treatment that is not available to the general public yet. While scientists have developed lots of new knowledge to better manage infections, Read more…