IDI Revealed 5 Drugs That Was Used For COVID-19 Now No Longer Useful

Ivermectin, a type of drug declared no longer useful for treating COVID-19. (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The head of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) COVID-19 Task Force, Zubairi Djoerban, revealed five types of drugs that had been used to treat COVID-19 patients but were now declared no longer useful.

The five drugs are ivermectin, chloroquine, oseltamivir, convalescent plasma, and azithromycin. This was disclosed by Zubairi in the Twitter account @PprofesorZubairi.

"Drugs that were previously used for COVID-19 and have now proved useless, have even caused serious side effects in some cases: ivermectin, chloroquine, oseltamivir, convalescent plasma, azithromycin," Zubairi was quoted as saying on Sunday, February 6.

Last year, a number of officials had promoted the use of ivermectin for COVID-19 patients. This drug has also been circulating in the market. However, Zubairi revealed that currently Ivermectin is not approved for use by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

"Ivermectin is not approved by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the European Union drug regulator. There are many reports of patients requiring medical attention, including hospitalization, after taking Ivermectin," he said.

Meanwhile, for chloroquine, Zubairi admitted that this drug has been used by hundreds of thousands of people in the world. However, it has proven to be dangerous for the heart. The benefits of the antivirus actually don't exist. So, chloroquine should not be used anymore.

On oseltamivir, Zuairi said this drug is actually intended to treat flu. There is no scientific evidence that oseltamivir is a COVID-19 drug. In fact, the WHO declared oseltamivir useless for the treatment of the corona virus.

Zubairi then recommends drugs that can be used by people with COVID-19. "If you don't take Oseltamivir, what are your choices? There are several options for antivirals. There are Avigan or Favipiravir and Molnupiravir, and Remdesivir. Later, let your doctor choose," explained Zubairi.

Then, convalescent plasma which is a plasma donor from someone who has recovered from COVID-19. Zubairi said that convalescent plasma is useless, expensive, and the process is very time consuming.

"It is not recommended by WHO except in the context of randomized controlled trials," he said.

Lastly, azithromycin. Zubairi said, this drug is not useful as a COVID-19 therapy, both on a mild and moderate scale. Unless, there are findings of bacteria other than the corona virus in the body. "If only COVID-19, then this drug is not needed," he added.