Remdesivir needs to be used only in 7-11 per cent Covid patients: Experts

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 21

Amid panic buying and prescription of a range of Covid management tools including anti viral injection Remdesivir and medical oxygen, top experts urged people on Wedneday not to see Remdesivir as a wonder drug and added that the anti-viral injection is to be used only in 7- 11 per cent of Covid patients.

On oxygen they said, it is a drug to be used very judiciously like a security blanket and not to be wasted.

AIIMS New Delhi Director Randeep Guleria said most of the active cases who are in home isolation or in the hospital don't actually need any specific treatment. 

"A very small percentage require Remdesivir. If we work together, use oxygen and Remdesivir judiciously, there will be no shortage anywhere," Guleria said.

The expert noted that healthy individuals with oxygen saturation in the range 93-94 pc do not need to take high flow oxygen just to maintain their saturation at 98-99 pc.

 “Oxygen is like a drug. If oxygen is less than 94 you need close monitoring but you still may not need oxygen," Guleria stated to drive home the point that taking oxygen intermittently is an absolute waste of oxygen. There is no data that shows that this will be of any help to the patients and is therefore ill-advised.

Medanta chief Naresh Trehan said the hospitals had enough oxygen only if they used it judiciously. Trehan said Medanta had drafted a protocol saying Remdesivir is not to be given to everyone who tests positive.

“It is to be given only after doctors look at test results, symptoms, comorbidities of a patient. Remdesivir isn't not a Ramban, it only decreases viral load in people who need it,” Trehan said.

Dr. Guleria said more than 85 per cent people will recover without any specific treatment in the form of Remdesivir.

 “Most will have symptoms like common cold, sore throat and over five to seven days they will recover with symptomatic treatment. Only 15 per cent will get moderate disease,” Guleria said advising cross ventilation to reduce the risk of infection in closed places.

 Dr Devi Shetty said ideal oxygen level was over 94.

"You need to see a doctor if O2 is falling after exercise," he said, advising a Covid test if anyone has symptoms.