Hydroxychloroquine for Prevention of COVID-19

June 18, 2020 / Charles W. Lapp, MD / Ask The Doctor

Q: One of my doctors is suggesting that I take hydroxychloroquine to possibly reduce the progression or severity of COVID-19 if I contact it. Is it safe?

A: Preventative hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is neither FDA-approved nor endorsed by any authority that I am aware of. In fact, in a recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine (June 3, 2020, D.R. Boulware et alia), hydroxychloroquine was given to 821 hospital workers who were exposed regularly to COVID and even at high doses 13% of them still contracted the illness, and 40% of the participants developed adverse effects from the medication.

Recently pharmacies have been only providing hydroxychloroquine to those who need it for bona fide medical reasons, but NOT for prevention. (When we write a Rx, we must state the individual’s medical condition.) This is to prevent shortages of medication for those who legitimately need it.

The best prevention is still social isolation, wearing a face mask when in contact with others, and frequent handwashing.

COVID, Hydroxychloroquine

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Dr. Hillman was born and reared in Utica, New York. He attended college at Clarkson University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering, and then spent two years toward a master’s degree in biochemistry/oncology at the University of Buffalo’s Roswell Park Division, where he did research in leukemia. Dr. Hillman attended St. George’s University School of Medicine, and completed his clinical years at the Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, graduating in 1996. During the Summer of 1994 he also did research at the University of Buffalo Dental School using PCR technology on RNA subtyping of gram negative oral bacteria. Following medical school, Hillman went on to a Family Practice Residency at North Shore / Long Island Jewish Hospital in Bay Shore, NY.

After his residency, Dr. Hillman worked for the US Army at the West Point Military Academy (Keller Army Hospital family practice unit), worked in the Emergency Room and hospital admitting areas, and ran a private practice as well. From 2005-2006 he also worked at the Winn Army Hospital at Fort Stewart, GA, before setting up a private Family Practice in Huntersville, NC in 2007. In addition to his private practice Dr. Hillman also has an interest in helping clients with disabilities. He has worked for ProMed Urgent Care in Occupational Medicine and performed over 13,000 examinations for Social Security Disability.

Dr. Hillman has a family member with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, so he has a long standing interest and empathy with the disorder! He is married and has two sons and a daughter. The family lives in Huntersville.