re: Local ER doc (South LA) here to answer your COVID-19 questions

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enerally safe but not so much for population prophylaxis like some are talking. If you need to be admitted, get ECG and start it. Hopefully supplies will increase.

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Definitely NOT for prophylaxis. And yes, a baseline EKG should be done as well as CBC and LFT's. The biggest problem I see is misinformation or misunderstanding of it. Caution should be stressed and we are seeing doctors with no experience with it prescribing it for some scared titbag with allergies. Or a VIP pt that insist. Many have never written it or know of the QT prolongation which can be exacerbated by Zithromax. Yet people with the disease shouldn't be afraid to take it if high risk or severe symptoms and positive. If someone has cardiac risks, admit them and monitor. The HIV meds plus Tamiflu or ribavirin has shown promise, but the HIV drugs and ribavirin are even less abundant than the plaquenil and much more expensive. Just FYI, gov't has been buying up plaquenil for over 2 years per our pharmacy wholesaler. Tried to get the wife to stock up three months ago when this thing first really started getting press. Could only get a little more than our usual monthly order. Haven't had any problems getting for our regulars since we'd built up a buffer.