Kolkata: Stocking, self-medication trigger antibiotic shortage

KOLKATA: Unchecked

stocking

and self-medications have led to a scarcity of some

drugs

like

Doxycycline

– a common antibiotic – that is now being extensively used in

Covid

treatment.


Although there has been no randomised controlled trial to define the effectiveness of Doxycycline in treating Covid-19, some studies have shown that the drug reduces the replication of the virus inside the body and enhances immunomodulation.

“In Covid, there is an inciting of the immune system. Doxycycline helps in immune modulation, reduction in replication of the virus and has a better viral clearance characteristic. It is an old antibiotic that is used in a wide range of spectrum, including treatment of pneumonia,” said Kaushik Chaudhuri, senior pulmonologist at Beliaghata ID Hospital.

Doctors

said with a number of patients now being treated under home consultation and names of medicines like Doxycyclin, Ivermectin, Remdesivir and Tocilizumab out in public, a number of people have also started stocking these medicines and some have even started home medication, leading to a crisis in the market. The governm-ent had to intervene and now the drugs are only available on production of a doctor’s prescription.

“Some people are even taking steroids even before the oxygen saturation drops below 94. Once on early use of steroids and antibiotics, it pulls the temperature down, giving patients a sense of security that they no longer need to visit a hospital. This is leading them to end up at the hospital much later,” said Saswati Sinha, critical care specialist at AMRI Hospitals.

Incidentally, Doxycycline has been a primary drug for veterinary doctors over the past several years for treating many diseases like tick fever, anaplasma and Babesia infections. Owing to its current usage in Covid-19 patients, the medicine is being dispensed under doctor’s prescription but most veterinary prescriptions are being turned down by the pharmacies, veterinary doctors claim.

“For years, Doxycycline has been our go-to drug to treat a wide range of blood parasitic protozoan disease. Since it has been prescribed for Covid treatment, the drug is almost unavailable across the city,” said Subir Bhattacharya, a veterinarian.

Another veterinarian, Kaushik Dutta, also raised a similar concern. In the absence of Doxycycline — a tablet — vets have started prescribing Imidazole, an injection, which vets opine is not as safe as the oral formulation.