Dexa methazone, an anti-inflammatory drug, is being hailed as a milestone in the treatment of critically ill patients with the new corona virus, which is being treated at the hospital.
During a trial in the UK, the drug was discovered to be effective in saving the lives of Code 19 patients, and immediate use has begun there.
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What is this medicine?
Dexamethasone is a steroid, a drug that helps reduce inflammation by making anti-inflammatory hormones in the body.
How does it work?
This drug works to slow down the body’s immune system.
Corona virus causes inflammation when the body tries to fight it.
But sometimes the immune system becomes too active and it can be deadly, because it starts targeting the healthy cells of the body.
Dexamethasone calms this effect.
It is only suitable for people who are already being treated in the hospital and are on oxygen or mechanical ventilator, ie it is recommended to use for very sick people.
British researchers have discovered that the corona virus does not affect people with mild to moderate illness because it does not help suppress the immune system at this point.
How effective is it?
According to the scientists involved in the trial, the use of this drug helps to save one out of every 3 patients on the ventilator.
Similarly, one in five patients who need oxygen can be saved.
The drug has not been shown to have a significant effect on patients who do not need respiratory support.
Why was the trial taking place?
Preliminary results of a recovery trial for the treatment of code 19 conducted by experts from Oxford University in the United Kingdom were released on Tuesday, which have not yet been published in any medical journal.
The study looked at the extent to which drugs available at the time could be helpful in treating code 19.
2100 patients were given 6 mg dose daily for 10 days during the study and their condition was compared with 4300 other patients who were not given any additional medication.
Scientists hope that dexamethasone will soon be added to a combination of different drugs that, together, could further reduce mortality.
The drug is recommended for adults, while the trial did not include pregnant or lactating women.
Is this medicine readily available?
Dexamethasone is an affordable drug that is readily available worldwide.
The price of this medicine in Pakistan is not more than a few hundred rupees and for the treatment of patients of Code 19, about 5 and a half pounds of medicine was given daily in 10 days.
The drug was developed in 1957 and since it has been around for a long time, it no longer needs to be patented or patented.
This means that it can be manufactured by many companies and that is why it is easily available all over the world.
The British government has added it to the parallel export list, barring companies from buying it and selling it at a higher price in another country.
Global response
The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomed the findings, saying more treatments were needed for patients with mild symptoms.
These results are no less good news for developing countries.
In many African countries, the drug costs less than 2.
In South Africa, where the drug is manufactured, the government has already instructed that it be used to treat patients on oxygen or ventilator.
What other diseases is it used for?
The drug is used for a number of ailments, including inflammation of the body, as well as problems with the highly activated immune system, such as acute asthma, which causes inflammation of the respiratory tract and lungs, allergic reactions and joints. Used for inflammation.
The drug is also useful for autoimmune diseases such as lipase, in which the immune system attacks the body.
Are there any side effects?
Common side effects of this drug in the treatment of diseases other than COD 19 include anxiety, sleep disturbances, weight gain, and fluid retention.
Very few people also suffer from eye diseases, blurred vision and hemorrhage.
However, corona virus patients are given low doses of this medicine, which may limit the side effects