Islamabad administration taking against hoarders, Punjab bans sale without a prescription
Pakistan’s Health Ministry officials have urged the public not to use dexamethasone drug without a doctor’s prescription because of serious side effects.
Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on National Health Services Dr. Zafar Mirza warned the people against the unprescribed consumption of dexamethasone as it can only be used for the critically ill.
While the research about the drug is encouraging, it should be used only for those on ventilators or oxygen and not by patients with mild symptoms.
“This isn’t a new drug, it’s been used since the 1960s. But for those listening, this drug should not be used for mild cases, asymptomatic cases or healthy individuals that want to avoid [contracting] COVID-19 because it can have side effects.”
Side-effects of Dexamethasone
Doctors have warned of the steroids possible side-effects which may include:
- nausea
- vomiting
- stomach upset
- swelling (edema)
- headache
- dizziness
- trouble falling asleep
- anxiety
- high blood glucose
- high blood pressure
Dexamethasone disappears from markets in Islamabad
Soon after the news media termed dexamethasone as “breakthrough treatment” for COVID-19, it led to hoarding and price-gouging in Islamabad.
Health professionals raised concerns that “misleading headlines” by media can have serious consequences urging media to report responsibly.
Reports claim that Punjab government is banning the sale of the drug since it is only required for critically ill patients. Islamabad administration is also getting into action against hoarders of dexamethasone and barring pharmacies and drug stores from selling it without a prescription.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has expressed hopes about early results from the use of dexamethasone in critically ill patients of coronavirus, suggesting that the research was at last providing “green shoots of hope” in treating the virus.
Nearly 3,100 people in Pakistan have died of the novel coronavirus since the first case was reported on February 26th. Over 157,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19 and about 59,000 people have fully recovered.