Physicians from Bangladesh Medical College Hospital (BMCH), led by Dr Tarek Alam, claimed that a combination of the anti-parasitic drug ‘ivermectin’ with antibiotic ‘Doxycycline’ yielded amazing results against SARS-CoV-2.
Dr Tarek Alam, associate professor, Department of Medicine, BMCH, made this claim while talking to Emamul Haque of Radio Metro Mail, Canada on Friday, reports UNB.
Alam, who is behind the cure, speaks exclusively about the findings of his clinical evidence and came up with several suggestions for the people in Bangladesh as well as the world population.
“We were looking for treating Covid-19 patients in Bangladesh with low cost and less side effects,” Dr Alam said adding that “We’ve found ivermectin and Doxycycline as very useful.”
Asked about the usage of the two medicines in combination, Dr Alam said “The dosage is the normal dose that dermatologists have been applying for scabies, it’s 200microgram ivermectin for per kg body weight, that’s what we use.”
“While we use 100miligram Doxycycline per day,” Alam said.
Asked about the prospective of this combined doses, Dr Alam said we’ve given this medication to 60 Covid-19 patients and later given it to another 60 patients.
All of them have reported that their situation improved, and within two to three days their requirements of oxygen decreased and they came back home, Dr Alam added.
Dr Alam also said that media reports were also published about the recovery of patients who used the combined dose.
When asked if any other hospitals or doctors are using these two medicines in combination, Dr Alam said “Hospitals, doctors, private doctors as well as quacks in remote areas have been using these medicines while there are so many prescriptions available on Facebook in my name.”
They have added zinc, vitamin-c, paracetamol which are not my suggestions, Dr Alam said adding that “I give prescriptions to my patients over mobile SMS whoever calls me.
When asked if anyone starts applying this medication on their own, Dr Alam said “People who are not tested positive for Covid-19, should not take this medication.”
Dr Alam kept on saying that “It is not the patients who decide the medication.”
RMM interviewer Emamul Haque asked Dr Alam that many people have been asking that without any further large trial, whether the doctors, institutions can apply this medication or not.
Dr Alam answered this question saying that “Logically they shouldn’t apply, but they are applying and we are having large trial actually.”
“They are using as they are getting good results,” he added.
However, I urge patients to get tested for coronavirus first and then apply this medication only if you are confirmed that you have the virus.
The government has been very helpful officially and unofficially, said Dr Alam when asked if he had discussed about his medication with Bangladesh government.
“The Health Minister himself has asked me to submit a research paper as earlier as possible,” Dr Alam said.
“Hopefully by next week I should be having the approval,” Dr Alam said adding that India’s Maharashtra state has already started using this medication.
Asked about the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) stance in this medication for Covid-19, Dr Alam said WHO has been conducting solidarity study, “They haven’t come up with a positive approach with me yet.”
“I think they are going to use ivermectin and Doxycycline as sixth or seventh arm in their solidarity study,” he added.
Bangladesh has been struggling with coronavirus pandemic for over three months.
The country has so far reported 63,026 coronavirus cases and 846 deaths.