Experts Worry Trump's Hydroxychloroquine Claims Could Have Major Consequences

Megan Ranney, a professor of emergency medicine at Brown University, told HuffPost that she would not prescribe hydroxychloroquine — sometimes called HCQ — to treat or prevent COVID-19.

Because the drug has anti-inflammatory effects, researchers are looking into whether it could play a role in treating or preventing the coronavirus.

Though hydroxychloroquine is prescribed to treat multiple diseases, it has potentially serious side effects, as many drugs do. .

“As a medication expert, as a pharmacist, I do worry about some of the side effects that are related to the drug,” Chan said.

Those consequences are why Ranney said she would not prescribe the drug to a COVID-19 patient unless research conclusively suggested it would help. .

Besides people suffering from the drug’s potential side effects, Chan and Ranney worry that Trump’s endorsement of HCQ could impact those who are already prescribed it. 

“This medication is necessary for people with lupus and other disorders,” Ranney said

And Chan is concerned about people who are already prescribed the drug: Trump’s consistent praise of HCQ has been a big story over the last two months, which has prompted media outlets, including HuffPost, to look into it more than they might otherwise. 

Stories about the drug often summarize its potential side effects and because they are so serious, Chan worries that those who do need HCQ might stop taking it, because the side effects may appear severe