General Coronavirus chit chat thread - non-travel specific

[MEL_Traveller]

A new study has found positive results with hydroxychloroquine (plaquenil) but together with Azothyioprine.,Both available on script.

What would be the willingness for doctors to prescribe this for say a:

• patient turning up at the GP clinic and asking for it (85 year old,no symptoms, wanting to use as a prophylactic)
• patient in hospital, with symptoms (age as above), but where these drugs are not yet approved by Australian authorities for use with COVID, but the prescription of which could potentially save their life?

So basically prescribing off-label I think?

With the HIV drug, if a patient is willing to pay, can/will it be prescribed?

 

[Pushka]

What would be the willingness for doctors to prescribe this for say a:

• patient turning up at the GP clinic and asking for it (85 year old,no symptoms, wanting to use as a prophylactic)
• patient in hospital, with symptoms (age as above), but where these drugs are not yet approved by Australian authorities for use with COVID, but the prescription of which could potentially save their life?

So basically prescribing off-label I think?

With the HIV drug, if a patient is willing to pay, can/will it be prescribed?

The US has pretty much rubber stamped it so it will be interesting to see if that follows here. There are some risks to it, as in issues with eyes but I think that's unlikely with short term use. I know I have to get my eyes specially checked each year. They are also incredibly bitter, and some experience stomach upsets but nothing like that for me.

 

[Hvr]

Went to the supermarket for my weekly shop this morning. Big blue crosses marked on the check-out aisles to stand the appropriate distance apart. And it was policed by staff.

Not too busy but it will be. Still no toilet paper. I don't need it and won't buy it unless someone I know has a genuine need and can't get out.

We've got some new staff at the office and doing one-to-one training whilst maintaining the appropriate "social distance" is hard. Hopefully we'll get to WFH soon.

 

[drron]

What would be the willingness for doctors to prescribe this for say a:

• patient turning up at the GP clinic and asking for it (85 year old,no symptoms, wanting to use as a prophylactic)
• patient in hospital, with symptoms (age as above), but where these drugs are not yet approved by Australian authorities for use with COVID, but the prescription of which could potentially save their life?

So basically prescribing off-label I think?

With the HIV drug, if a patient is willing to pay, can/will it be prescribed?

Any doctor can write a private script for the drugs but most will not write a PBS script.
Fortunately plaquenil is not that expensive-should be just over $30 though may be cheaper in discount pharmacies.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

The US has pretty much rubber stamped it

There is a difference between the public utterances of one particular senior USA elected official, and what the people conducting the trials are stating. But yes they are certainly quite hopeful.

 

[Pushka]

There is a difference between the public utterances of one particular senior USA elected official, and what the people conducting the trials are stating. But yes they are certainly quite hopeful.

Maybe that's all we can hang on to right now.

 

[Flashback]

People will die who have never died before

 

[Denali]

Friend's daughter had her last wedding dress fitting last week, no wedding ceremony or party today. Daughter is shattered but doing really well

Reception food is being donated to homeless organisation.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

There is a difference between the public utterances of one particular senior USA elected official, and what the people conducting the trials are stating. But yes they are certainly quite hopeful.

C'mon. This drug won't kill you, it has to be a better option than 'doing nothing' - at least for those who become seriously ill. WHy do we need all this 'fluff' around how many months it will take them to tell us an answer?

The Professor in Queensland said his team is testing two drugs that both work well, but they need months to determine which one works better. Ummm... why not just roll 'em out??? 6 months is going to be too late for many. it already is for thousands in China and Italy

 

[lovetravellingoz]

What would be the willingness for doctors to prescribe this for say a:

• patient turning up at the GP clinic and asking for it (85 year old,no symptoms, wanting to use as a prophylactic)
• patient in hospital, with symptoms (age as above), but where these drugs are not yet approved by Australian authorities for use with COVID, but the prescription of which could potentially save their life?

So basically prescribing off-label I think?

With the HIV drug, if a patient is willing to pay, can/will it be prescribed?

I would hope that our Doctors would not be so willing if supply is at present quite limited (Which my guess would be that it is).

Hopefully our doctors and medical authorities will, and I am sure they will, restrict access to those that need it as a genuine treatment as no doubt supplies will already be quite limited. If so, they need to be saved for when a patient is in a dire state (or at least the state when Doctors believe appropriate.

As I understand it at present it is being looked as a cure and not as a preventive. And if it did prevent, unless manufacturing/ supply is such that it can be used as preventative it should be reserved as a treatment.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

C'mon. This drug won't kill you, it has to be a better option than 'doing nothing' - at least for those who become seriously ill. WHy do we need all this 'fluff' around how many months it will take them to tell us an answer?

The Professor in Queensland said his team is testing two drugs that both work well, but they need months to determine which one works better. Ummm... why not just roll 'em out???

1/ Part of the trial is to calculate the correct dose rate.

With just roll 'em out, people who do not need it as a cure will take it and dose rates would be too low (meaning it will not work) or too high (mean a limited resource is wasted).

2/ Supply is limited (Till manufacturing can be ramped up). Let's not try and not have Toilet Paper Mark 2 , but this time with drugs.

 

[Flashback]

Friend's daughter had her last wedding dress fitting last week, no wedding ceremony or party today. Daughter is shattered but doing really well

Reception food is being donated to homeless organisation.

I was invited to a wedding in India in a few weeks time, travel was all lined up but that's not been canned, wedding has been delayed too with new date TBD.

 

[Denali]

I'm at the flipping tables stage

"Police investigating ‘disturbing trend’ of teens coughing on produce | KRON4" Police investigating ‘disturbing trend’ of teens coughing on produce

 

[lovetravellingoz]

and reason 3/ My daughter works in a Respiratory Ward. They fortunately only have one Covid 19 patient at present. Such patients only go there because they cannot breathe. ie would be dead otherwise.

My daughter and her colleagues want all the tools they can so that they can treat those that need it. And there is a flow on to others as for example if cases mount the longer that CV 19 person ties up a ventilator, the more it means that another person such as a road crash victim may not get a ventilator and will die.

 

[Flashback]

I don't know if people remember, but I was very ill when I arrived back from HKG / Taiwan / Macau on 1st Jan. I had a dry cough, fever, difficult breathing for about 2-3 weeks.

Normally when 'man-flu-like' I had a non-dry cough, so wouldn't be surprised if I had something very similar. Was battered for about 4 weeks, but recovered in the end.

 

[Pushka]

People will die who have never died before

Reminds me of Bush. I'd laugh if it wasn't such a reality. Well, what he's trying to say is a reality.

 

[Flashback]

Reminds me of Bush. I'd laugh if it wasn't such a reality. Well, what he's trying to say is a reality.

Good old Trump.

 

[Pushka]

I don't know if people remember, but I was very ill when I arrived back from HKG / Taiwan / Macau on 1st Jan. I had a dry cough, fever, difficult breathing for about 2-3 weeks.

Normally when 'man-flu-like' I had a non-dry cough, so wouldn't be surprised if I had something very similar. Was battered for about 4 weeks, but recovered in the end.

That's quite possible, isnt it.

 

[mrsterryn]

Anyone had to register a car ?
Our third car which stays with son is up for rego in a few weeks
I wonder if rules will change on that ?

 

[Flashback]

That's quite possible, isnt it.

I did self isolate for 3 weeks. More so though because I could barely get out of bed!