Safety considerations with chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin in the management of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Authors: Juurlink, D. N.

Publication: CMAJ.; April 2020

Affiliations: Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre; Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Toronto; ICES; Ontario Poison Centre, Toronto, Ont.

Abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) has spread rapidly around the globe in recent months. With deaths from its associated disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), projected to reach into the millions and a vaccine unlikely in the near term, the search is on for existing drugs that might prevent COVID-19 or improve outcomes for patients who have COVID-19. Chloroquine and its derivative hydroxychloroquine, which have been used for decades in the treatment and prevention of malaria as well as chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, have received much attention as potential therapies.