After a study investigated if hydroxycholoroquine (HCQ) benefits COVID-19 patients, the drug—used to treat SLE and RA patients—began running out in pharmacies around the U.S. ACR leaders have asked the FDA to increase monitoring of the HCQ supply…
CVS to Prevent Stockpiling of Malaria Drug Amid COVID-19
March 25 (Reuters)—CVS Health said on Wednesday its pharmacy benefit management (PBM) unit was laying out measures to prevent the stockpiling of malaria drug, hydroxychloroquine, which is being tested as a potential treatment for the coronavirus. The company said it was also setting up limits on the use of azithromycin, a protease inhibitor and albuterol…
Should Hydroxychloroquine Level Testing Be Standard Care in Lupus?
The Johns Hopkins Lupus Center, Baltimore, has described its experience using hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) levels.1 Forty-four percent of its patients had levels below 500 ng/mL (partial nonadherence); 13% were severely nonadherent (<200 ng/mL). They were shown their results and educated on HCQ adherence. Adherence then improved to 80%; those with lower HCQ levels had higher disease…
New Study Asks Why Lupus Patients Don’t Take Their Hydroxychloroquine
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) therapy may effectively manage systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in many patients, but that doesn’t mean patients will take it as often as they should. In fact, results from a recently published study found that about half of SLE patients were not adherent.1 The study was led by Lucy H. Liu, MD, MPH, a…
Rheumatologists Debate Hydroxychloroquine Dosing Guidelines for Lupus
CHICAGO—The correct dosing of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a concern of all rheumatologists. Petros Efthimiou, MD, clinical professor of medicine at New York University, New York City, opened the Great Debate of the 2018 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting by stating, “Today, we will be discussing a critical clinical problem that affects everyone’s…