COVID-19: How effective is Remdesivir in treating covid patients? Check out here

The COVID-19 situation in India has been deteriorating amid the second wave of coronavirus infections. For the past three days, the country has been reporting in excess of two lakh coronavirus infections and over 1,000 related deaths on a daily basis. India reported a spike of coronavirus cases with over 2,59,170 fresh infections and 1,761 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Amid the rising coronavirus cases, several states in the country are facing shortage of Remdesivir, anti-viral drug, used to treat covid patients. 

As Indian is facing shortage, the Centre has banned its export, states are sending special flights to get it from the manufacturers, and there have been protests against the shortage. 

Remedacivir is an important drug to treat corona patients. Dr. Neeraj Nischal (Associate Professor, Department of AIIMS Medicine, Delhi) told the Times of India that there are many things about Remedesivir that are important to know during the Corona period and explaind how crucial the drug is.

How important is Remdesivir for treating corona patients?

Remdesivir is an anti-viral drug that has been repurposed from the Ebola pandemic. It works by incorporating itself into the genetic material of the virus and prevents the replicating enzyme from making new copies of the virus. The mechanism appears very promising, but the actual effect on patients is not so. 

Remdesivir is an anti-viral drug. It was used during the Ebola outbreak. Thinking Remdesivir as a miracle cure for Covid is wrong. In fact, most patients don’t require remdesivir for surviving this disease.

Do all covid patients need Remdesivir?

In the case of Covid, emergency use of Remdesivir was approved. However, after some time, its use increased due to the fear of corona. These injections were to be used only after certain symptoms seen in corona patients. This is only beneficial for a few patients. Patients with low oxygen levels. Apart from such patients, no significant effect of remedivir has been observed. It should be used solely and exclusively on the basis of the clinical status of the patient, not on the basis of social status. Remdesivir is an injectable drug. Some patients may experience adverse effects on the heart and liver.

When to use Remedesivir? What is the right time to use it on patients

Over the last few days, there has been a shortage of Remdesivir across the country. Relatives of the covid patients are facing issues buying this drug as it is unavailable at most of the places. Against this backdrop, the head of the Maharashtra covid task force Dr. Sanjay Oak has appealed to all and said 'Remedesivir is not a life-saving drug. Taking Remdesivir does not mean saving lives. The patient's stay in the hospital is reduced by 1 to 2 days after the taking the druh, 'said Dr. Oak.

There are different types of medicine. Remedesivir is an antiviral drug. When a virus grows in large numbers in the body, Remedesivir acts to prevent it. I would like to tell doctors that Remedesivir is not a life-saving drug. Administering Remedesivir to a covid patient does not save lives, said the doctor. It is more important to maintain good oxygen levels, vitamin C, zinc and water levels in the body. Remedivir should be given to the right patient. "It's not a cure-all," he added.

Relatives of some covid patients are trying to give Remedesivir injections for home treatment.But Remedesivir is not a drug to be given anywhere and anytime. Remedesivir should not be given at home. It's not that kind of medicine. It is a hospital medicine. The patient admitted to the hospital has to be given Remedesivir within a period of 2 to 9 days. In some places, patients are given Remedesivir for 9 to 14 days which is not recommended. Remedesivir is a medicine to be given in only 5 doses, he said.