Practice considerations on the use of investigational anti-COVID-19 medications: Dosage, administration and monitoring

Ji Eun Kang, Sandy Jeong Rhie

Research output: Contribution to journalComment/debate

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

What is known and Objective: Understanding investigational medications is important. Many older drugs are being investigated for repurposing against COVID-19. We comment on various drugs currently undergoing such trials to optimize their safe use. Comment: We describe medications used during early COVID-19 outbreaks in South Korea, focusing on practice aspects including the method of drug administration, drug formulation, patient-monitoring for adverse reactions and drug interactions informed by our experience during the 2015 outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). We comment on hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir with zinc supplement, remdesivir, tocilizumab, ciclesonide, niclosamide and high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). What is new and conclusion: Effective therapies are urgently needed to manage COVID-19, and existing drugs such as antivirals and antimalarials are under investigation for repurposing to meet this need. This process requires up-to-date drug information to ensure optimum use, particularly safety and efficacy profiles of the medications, until convincing evidence is reported.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1199-1205
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics
Volume45
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Oct 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • investigational medication
  • severe acute respiratory syndrome

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