• SpezCanLigmaBalls@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    Oh wtf this was one of the drugs people used to poison themselves with? I was prescribed this a month ago because the rheumatologist told me is the safest drug for auto immune issues although I still need to take mehtylprednisolone every few months due to spinal inflammation that messes with nerves.

    • Kecessa@sh.itjust.works
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      11 months ago

      It’s great if it’s used to treat what it was meant to, people started taking it because a few doctors mentioned it might help with COVID without having any proof it did.

    • dantheclamman@lemmy.worldOP
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      11 months ago

      The hazards here were related to passing around doses, improper prescriptions from disreputable doctors, and not seeking out actual treatments for covid. If you have certain conditions and medications there can be side effects and interactions that harm health, but that your doctor should have considered. Some people who really needed hydroxychloroquine for legitimate uses like yours had trouble getting it because of shortages due to morons rushing out to get it.

    • Wrench@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Just like Ivermectin, it has a legitimate use. But snakeoil salesmen peddled both of them as off label Covid miracle cures with zero medical trials, or even an attempt to begin one.

    • Zoboomafoo@slrpnk.net
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      11 months ago

      Take the recommended dose and you’ll be fine, just don’t go over because it’s easy to OD with.

      You might also go blind, but that’s a future you problem

      • SpezCanLigmaBalls@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        Yeah my rheumatologist did mention that to me but he said it takes years and years to start to form and is easy to revert. He just said to get eyes checked every year

        • SomeoneElse@lemmy.ca
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          11 months ago

          It is most certainly not easy to revert. I was on it for 15 years and now have permanent, irreversible damage to my macular. I also can’t take hydroxychloroquine at all anymore because I will go blind.

          But my doctors messed up and didn’t checked my eyes for over a decade. Once the usual optician spotted it, it was too late. If you see an ophthalmologist every year, they should spot any issue before it’s too late.

    • marcos@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      If you take a look at the more dangerous collateral effects… and correlate with the more dangerous COVID effects, you’ll have a surprise.

      By itself, the drug is pretty safe.