She says Canadians should not take hydroxychloroquine without scientific evidence. “It can be quite dangerous. These drugs are not without side effects,” she said.
PHAC would not disclose if hydroxychloroquine is part of its National Emergency Strategic Stockpile , which contains supplies that provinces and territories can use when their own supplies and medications run out. Nor would it say how many doses it has in its possession. In an email Monday, it referred all questions about a possible increase in production of hydroxychloroquine “to the manufacturer.”
Canadians should not take hydroxychloroquine without scientific evidence. It can be quite dangerous
“If the science demonstrates that hydroxychloroquine is effective in treating COVID-19, and this is supported by regulatory authorities, then this would be positive news,” says Jordan Berman, Apotex’s spokesperson. “We would certainly be prepared to assist from a product standpoint.”
Predominantly a medication that treats malaria, hydroxychloroquine is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, some symptoms of lupus, childhood arthritis and a number of other autoimmune diseases.
Common side effects include nausea and diarrhea, rashes, changes in skin pigment, changes in hair quality, and muscle weakness. In rare cases, it can lead to vision issues in some patients who take it long-term, those 60 or older or in patients with kidney disease.
