Covid-Cocktail Recommendations

Just imagine how beneficial it could be to avoid a hospital admission.

There are at least 5 million Senior Adults ( above 40 yrs old) in Zimbabwe.

1. Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare can admit at most 600 to 700 patients
2. Harare Hospital ( Sally Mugabe Hospital) can admit between 400 to 500 patients
3. Mpilo Hospital can admits up to 400 patients.
4. United Bulawayo hospitals can admit up to 400 patients.
5. The rest of the small hospitals in the countries districts cannot admit more than 200 patients.

So, if a large number of our population were to get ill, where would we go for hospitalisation?

 

Dr F Mamvura comes with proposed solutions that may prevent hospital admission, which may well help you recover in the comfort of your home in the company of your loved ones. We all know how stretched our health services are especially in this Pandemic.

The Top Big Four medicines (must have) are as follows:

1. Steroids

Either Prednisolone or Dexamethasone for 5-7 days. Steroids are the mainstay of a counter-action of an attack from a Covid-19 virus to the human body ( the so called Cytokine Storm). Steroids counteracts this cytokine storm. Steroids are natural body chemicals which play roles in various defence mechanisms against infections. They form the backbone of chemicals known as hormones. In Covid-19 they help in our defence reducing the extent of the cytokine storm.

Using steroids early on in Covid infection reduces your chance of deterioration and may help avoid hospital admission.

2. Blood thinners or Anticoagulants

These are commonly known to prevent clot formation or to help with clot destruction. In Covid-19 Enoxaparin has been the commonly studied drug to prevent clot formation in infected patients. It is also known is Clexane- this is an injection given twice per day - however this is may be expensive for many in Zimbabwe. Second line to Enoxaparin is Xarelto or Apixaban. They belong to the same family, but these are taken as tablets, these are equally expensive in a country like Zimbabwe.

There is another blood thinner called Warfarin. The continuation of this drug is only recommended in those patients who have been taking it and not to anyone who has not been using Warfarin.

This drug, once started, one needs to build up levels which dissolve clots. But in Covid-19, there is no time to build these levels, because clots associtated with Covid-19 need to be prevented from the time of diagnosis.There might might delay to reach these levels when you contract Covid-19 illness.

Warfarin should never be started for purposes of initiating Covid-19 treatment.

3. Antibiotics

Do not treat Covid-19, but reduce the chance of a superadded infection worsening your chest or breathing symptoms. There is a wide choice out there. Suggestions for Zimbabwe would be antibiotics such as Azithromycin, Clarythromycin, Doxycyline, Amoxicillin, Co-amoxiclav, but honestly any good antibiotic will do.

Antibiotics are antimicrobial substances active against bacteria. They do not treat Viruses like Covid-19. Their role in Covid-19 is to treat or prevent bacterial infections which take advantage of your compromised situation when you get Covid-19 illness.

4. Stomach Protection

Most needed for those who suffer from indigestion or heartburn especially when they have to use a steroid as well. The following are recommended Omepraxole, Pantopraxole, Esomeprazole, Lansoprazole, or Cimetidine. Please desist from using Ranitidine as it has been taken off the shelf the world over.

Stomach Lining Protectors – eg Gaviscon or MMT, these drugs soothe and coat the stomach lining and/or neutralize acids. They can be used if one cannot afford the ones above.

5. Pulse Oxymeter

Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive method for monitoring a person's oxygen saturation.

6. Glucometer

A glucose meter, also referred to as a "glucometer", is a medical device for determining the approximate concentration of glucose in the blood.

7. Panadol, Paracetamol or Ibuprofen

Paracetamol and Ibuprofen are common painkillers used to treat aches and pain. They can also be used to reduce a high temperature. They are available over the counter or even in some supermarkets.They are sometimes combined for wide range of cold and flu remedies.

All the above except Paracetamol and Ibuprofen are prescription medicines.

Dr F.Mamvura has deliberately not given you the drug doses or the frequency of administration because he wants you to take this information to your doctor to discuss whether you can take them. Your doctor will also have to check if these drugs suit you or interact with other medicines your are taking.