Most of the pros and cons of Hydroxychloroquine have already been discussed here, I will share my point of view. (for whatever that is worth).
a. Unfortunately, this has become political, when dealing with science or life and death politics should not play any role.
b. Everyone agrees that the data is not sufficient to support Hydroxychloroquine as an evidence-based treatment. (the reason why it is being used especially for in-hospital patients, is because of the known track record this medication has, and the rules slightly change when dealing with a pandemic).
c. The initial French study was very flawed, but the follow-up study showed remarkable improvements with most of the patients that were on Hydroxychloroquine, with a significantly reduced infection period.
d. The logic behind Hydroxychloroquine and Zinc is not that it reverses the infection, rather that it makes it more difficult for the virus to replicate and reproduce, giving the body a better chance at fighting the virus.
e. This is why if one were to go with Hydroxychloroquine as a treatment option, it makes sense to start it early on, not later on as none of the meds reverse anything.
f. Like everything in life, especially with medicine, there are potential side effects, some common and some not so common. Many medications have a potential side effect of prolonged the QTC, so if a patient already has this conduction abnormality, there is risk for them developing a potentially deadly arrhythmia. This can be quickly ruled out by obtaining an EKG. Yet some providers are prescribing Hydroxychloroquine without getting an EKG, especially if the patient has no known cardiac history.
g. All the sick should have a refuah shleima!