Trump says he’s taking hydroxychloroquine, claims it’s good

“I’m taking the two, the zinc and the hydroxy. And all I can tell you is so far, I seem to be okay,” he said.  (File photo: The White House/Facebook)

United States (US) President Donald Trump seems not to mind the previous warnings of medical experts regarding hydroxychloroquine as he revealed he has been taking the antimalarial drug which he has touted as a “game-changer” in the fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Speaking with the media at the White House on Monday, May 18, Trump shared he started taking the medicine every day for “about a week and a half now,” along with a zinc supplement.

“I’m taking the two, the zinc and the hydroxy. And all I can tell you is so far, I seem to be okay,” he said.

Trump said the White House physician did not recommend him to take hydroxychloroquine, instead, it was him who requested it, claiming that “a lot of people are taking it,” including the frontline workers.

“I think it’s good. I’ve heard a lot of good stories. And if it’s not good, I’ll tell you right. I’m not going to get hurt by it,” he stressed.

Although it was reported that so far there were two known White House staffers who contracted COVID-19, including Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary, Katie Miller, Trump clarified that he started taking the medicine not because he was exposed to the virus but because he got “a lot of positive letters” about it.

“It seems to have an impact. And maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t. But if it doesn’t, you’re not going to get sick or die,” he said.

Dr. Sean Conley, the physician to the President, also assured that Trump is in “very good health and has remained symptom-free,” adding that the latter receives regular COVID-19 testing and all of it resulted in negative.

The 73-year-old President continues to hype hydroxychloroquine despite the cautions made by medical experts as well as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) who earlier warned that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine “have not been shown to be safe and effective for treating or preventing COVID-19.”

The FDA said they received reports that some COVID-19 patients treated with hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, often combined with azithromycin, showed “serious heart rhythm problems.”

“Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine can cause abnormal heart rhythms such as QT interval prolongation and a dangerously rapid heart rate called ventricular tachycardia,” it said.

“Patients who also have other health issues such as heart and kidney disease are likely to be at increased risk of these heart problems when receiving these medicines,” it added.

The agency said they will continue to study these medicines and inform the public should they get more information about the risks linked to the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for COVID-19.