Skip to content
Lupus Association of NSW Inc.
Lupus Association of NSW Inc.
The Quest for a Cure
1800 802 088

Donate Now

  • Home
  • Understanding Lupus
    • What is Lupus?
    • Signs and Symptoms of Lupus
    • Diagnosing Lupus
    • FAQs about Lupus
  • Living with Lupus
    • Lupus and COVID-19
    • Coronavirus, stress and mental health
    • Looking after your well-being
    • Tips for Living with Lupus
    • Lupus and Diet
    • Medications
    • Managing Pain
    • Managing Fatigue
    • Infections
    • Photosensitivity
  • Sjogren’s Syndrome
    • What is Sjögren’s Syndrome?
    • Signs and Symptoms of Sjögren’s
    • Diagnosing Sjögren’s Syndrome
    • Treating Sjögren’s Syndrome
    • Tips for Living with Sjögren’s Syndrome
  • Resources
    • Support
    • Other Lupus Websites
    • Lupus Store
  • Research
    • Research and Reports
    • The Monash Lupus Clinic
    • The Alpha Project
    • The Alpha Project Phase 11
  • Get Involved
    • News and Events
    • Lupus Stories
    • Donate
  • About Us
    • Mission Statement
    • Our History
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • Understanding Lupus
    • What is Lupus?
    • Signs and Symptoms of Lupus
    • Diagnosing Lupus
    • FAQs about Lupus
  • Living with Lupus
    • Lupus and COVID-19
    • Coronavirus, stress and mental health
    • Looking after your well-being
    • Tips for Living with Lupus
    • Lupus and Diet
    • Medications
    • Managing Pain
    • Managing Fatigue
    • Infections
    • Photosensitivity
  • Sjogren’s Syndrome
    • What is Sjögren’s Syndrome?
    • Signs and Symptoms of Sjögren’s
    • Diagnosing Sjögren’s Syndrome
    • Treating Sjögren’s Syndrome
    • Tips for Living with Sjögren’s Syndrome
  • Resources
    • Support
    • Other Lupus Websites
    • Lupus Store
  • Research
    • Research and Reports
    • The Monash Lupus Clinic
    • The Alpha Project
    • The Alpha Project Phase 11
  • Get Involved
    • News and Events
    • Lupus Stories
    • Donate
  • About Us
    • Mission Statement
    • Our History
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy

New Restrictions on Prescribing hydroxychloroquine

New restrictions on prescribing hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19

The following is an extract from the TGA website of this alert:

24 March 2020

 

In recent days there has been considerable focus on the potential for hydroxychloroquine and the similar compound chloroquine (which is not marketed in Australia) to help in treating COVID-19.

Hydroxychloroquine is used for treatment of malaria and certain autoimmune diseases.

Recent reports of increased off-label prescribing of medicines containing hydroxychloroquine have raised concerns that this will create a potential shortage of this product in Australia.

Clinical trials are underway around the world examining their potential to treat COVID-19. However, these medicines pose well-known serious risks to patients including cardiac toxicity (potentially leading to sudden heart attacks), irreversible eye damage and severe depletion of blood sugar (potentially leading to coma).

Given the limited evidence for effect against COVID-19, as well as the risk of significant adverse effects, the TGA strongly discourages the use of hydroxychloroquine outside of its current indications at this time other than in a clinical trial setting or in a controlled environment in the treatment of severely ill patients in hospital.

To limit use of hydroxychloroquine to currently approved indications, there have been new restrictions placed on who can initiate therapy using it. Only certain types of specialists will be able to prescribe hydroxychloroquine to new patients (see information for health professionals below). General practitioners and other medical practitioners (e.g. hospital Resident Medical Officers (RMOS) and doctors in training) can continue to prescribe repeats for hydroxychloroquine to patients in line with the registered indications for patients in whom the medication was prescribed prior to 24 March 2020. From 24 March 2020, general practitioners and doctors in training can only prescribe these medicines for continued treatment of patients where initial treatment has been authorised by one of the specialists.

 

For further information also read the NPS MEDICINEWISE site, which has regular updated information about COVID-19 and using your regular medicines during this time.

Author: admin

Post navigation

PreviousPrevious post:Update – Access to HydroxychloroquineNextNext post:COVID-19 & Access to Hydroxychloroquine

Related posts

WLF Global Survey of People Living with Lupus
05/05/2022
New cutaneous lupus erythematosus clinical trial in Victoria
13/09/2021
FDA Approves Saphnelo™ as New Treatment for Lupus
06/08/2021
Exercise Intervention
02/06/2021
US FDA approves Lupkynis (voclosporin)
16/02/2021
US FDA approve Benlysta
16/02/2021

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

clear formPost comment

Stay in touch
Address: 55 Wicks Rd
North Ryde NSW 2113
 
Phone: (02) 9878 6055
Email: info@lupusaust.org.au
A.B.N: 25 876 911 996
Useful Links
  • Other Lupus Websites
Latest Tweets
World Lupus Day is Wednesday May 10. Let's work together to raise awareness and beat this monster!
Donations
  • How To Donate
  • Privacy Policy
Donate Now!
© Lupus Association of NSW Inc.

Webmaster - admin@lupusnsw.org.au