President Trump's Praise Of Hydroxychloroquine May Be Causing Shortages
BOSTON (CBS) – A Waltham man who relies on hydroxychloroquine for his arthritis is having trouble getting his medication and he blames President Donald Trump.
The president said he's been taking the drug to prevent catching coronavirus.
For 66-year-old David, who did not want his last name used in this story, hydroxychloroquine has been a game changer.
"I have arthritis in my hip and knees," he told WBZ-TV. "Since I've been taking it the pain has been much much less. It definitely helped me a lot with just plain walking."
Newly retired, the former runner has been on the drug for more than a year, and he said he has never had a problem getting it until now.
"I'm very concerned. When I called my local CVS today to get it, they said they were out of stock," he said.
The drug is used to treat lupus, malaria and rheumatoid arthritis. Demand for it first spiked earlier this year when it was touted as a possible treatment for COVID-19. At that time, in a letter to the vice president, The Arthritis Foundation and others voiced concern about a possible shortage.
Just this week, President Trump said he was taking the medication preventatively. But the Food and Drug administration has advised against taking hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19, because it has not been proven to be an effective treatment for the virus.
Doctors say the drug's popularity is leading to shortages.
"We see with the utterances of public figures about the potential for hydroxychloroquine to prevent or treat, that there's a run at the pharmacies. I tell my patients go look for it three weeks in advance of you running out of the drug, let's get you a two months supply," Dr. Daniel Solomon of Brigham and Women's Hospital told WBZ.
"This is one of those drugs you take for life," David said. "If I can't get it or substitute it, I'm not sure what will happen."
Late Thursday, David got a call that he would be able to pick up his medication from another pharmacy. But he said he's concerned about what might happen the next time he needs his prescription filled.
