Hacker News Reader

Comment by hannob | Hacker News Reader

The possible side effects include permanent blindness.

Giving this drug to people while you simply don't know if it does any good is only justifiable if you do it within a properly designed clinical trial. Which is the thing you should do. If you feel lots of people should get this drug - do a large trial. Will give us better data.

View on HN

Permanent blindness typically takes many weeks / years of use.

https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-8633/chloroquine-oral/det...

Which might be necessary for prophylactic use.

You only need to mitigate the peak of infections from this virus. And I don’t think anyone is suggesting it to be used as a preventive tool. It is to reduce the contagiousness of people tested positive (and hopefully also help them with the virus).

No, the course is 10 days IIRC.

> The possible side effects include permanent blindness.

Yes, but only with massive doses or when treatment lasts for more than 5 years.

If you take it for years. Why is everyone ignoring that part?

Because blindness is a harsh outcome, so it jumps out and causes an emotional reaction.

because it doesn't generate enough offense. most online arguments seems to be attempts at creating the maximum possible offense to create "engagement"

the fact you need to have 1 kilogram of chloroquine during years of treatment is an inconvenient complicated fact, while the emotional appeal of blindness scores more indignation.

The half life is 2 months. That's crazy.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com