New Delhi: The Indian Government has approved the use of low-cost steroid drug dexamethasone as an alternative to methylprednisolone to treat coronavirus patients with moderate and severe symptoms.
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare today issued a revised clinical management protocol for treating COVID-19 patients allowing Dexamethasone steroid as an alternative to Methylprednisolone.
Use of Dexamethasone, a cheap and widely available anti-inflammatory steroid has been cleared for patients in need of oxygen support and those who have an excessive inflammatory response. The drug that has been in the market for over 60 years is used to reduce inflammation in other diseases such as arthritis.
For patients with progressive deterioration of oxygenation indicators, rapid worsening on imaging and excessive activation of the body’s inflammatory response, glucocorticoids can be used for a short period of time (3 to 5 days). It is recommended that dose should not exceed the equivalent of Methylprednisolone 1 – 2mg/kg/day OR Dexamethasone 0.2-0.4 mg/kg/day. Note that a larger dose of glucocorticoid will delay the removal of coronavirus due to immunosuppressive effects, the guidelines said.
A prophylactic dose of UFH or LMWH (e.g., enoxaparin 40 mg per day SC) should be given for anti-coagulation. Control of co-morbid conditions should be ensured. For pregnant severe cases, consultations with obstetric, neonatal, and intensive care specialists (depending on the condition of the mother) are essential. Patients often suffer from anxiety and fear and they should be supported by psychological counselling.”
For the uninitiated, around 2 weeks ago, scientists from Oxford University had claimed that they had found a drug that was effective against COVID-19. The development was considered one of the biggest breakthroughs in the COVID-19 fight. The drug was found to reduce the risk of death in COVID-19 patients with severe respiratory illness.
Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) had emphasized the need to rapid increase in production of dexamethasone, after British clinical trials found it had life-saving potential for critically-ill coronavirus patients.
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