on 16-06-2020 13:15
Some good news for a change.
A cheap and widely available drug called dexamethasone can help save the lives of patients who are seriously ill with coronavirus.
UK experts say the low-dose steroid treatment is major breakthrough in the fight against the deadly virus.
It cut the risk of death by a third for patients on ventilators. For those on oxygen, it cut deaths by a fifth.
The drug is part of the world's biggest trial testing existing treatments to see if they also work for coronavirus.
Researchers estimate that if the drug had been available in the UK from the start of the coronavirus pandemic up to 5,000 lives could have been saved. Because it is cheap, it could also be of huge benefit in poor countries struggling with high numbers of Covid-19 patients.
We used this a lot for patients with severe head injuries back in the 60's,70's,80's and 90's. It reduced swelling of the brain.
Excellent news.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-53061281
Veritas Numquam Perit
on 16-06-2020 16:39
I saw this on the news just now - really interesting!!! I hope this changes things. I also read that they are testing 3 possible vaccines.
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on 16-06-2020 18:52
on 16-06-2020 18:52
on 16-06-2020 20:45
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on 16-06-2020 21:05
on 16-06-2020 21:05
If nothing else it just proves the worth of research.
This drug, as I said earlier, has been used for years and years. The first drug we injected when trauma patients were admitted with head injuries. Also given after surgery for brain tumours etc.
The researchers are claiming 5000 UK lives could have been saved had this drug been used at the start of the pandemic.
There again, how would we have known?
A big thumbs up for UK researchers.
Veritas Numquam Perit
on 16-06-2020 21:06
on 16-06-2020 21:06
16-06-2020 21:43 - edited 16-06-2020 21:45
16-06-2020 21:43 - edited 16-06-2020 21:45
I remember this one... dunno why, but apparently weasel-words may have been used in the official government communication about the drug's approval earlier today...
Hay-fever medication as a lad, I think. 🤔
on 16-06-2020 22:08
on 16-06-2020 22:08
Just on BBC news "the drug has been in use for 60 years".
Apparently it was first used on a critically ill female with Covid 19, on a ventilator. Her husband gave his approval as part of a clinical trial.
She has just been talking to BBC and remembers none of it.
From now on EVERY Covid 19 patient on oxygen or a ventilator will be given Dexamethasone.
Veritas Numquam Perit