Man dies after self-medicating with chloroquine phosphate
PSA: Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are not approved for coronavirus.
"A man has died and his wife is under critical care after the couple, both in their 60s, ingested chloroquine phosphate," one of the anti-malaria drugs that President Trump has mentioned in recent days, according to Banner Health, the hospital system that treated both patients.
Why it matters: People who self-medicate risk serious side effects or death, and it's why any messaging about chloroquine and the related hydroxychloroquine should emphasize that these drugs have not been approved to prevent or treat the new coronavirus.
Heidi Przybyla @HeidiNBC
Her husband is dead & she's in the ICU after ingesting chloroquine:
"We saw Trump on TV -- every channel -- & all of his buddies and that this was safe," she said.
"Trump kept saying it was basically pretty much a cure."
She implored @VaughnHillyard: "Educate the people" https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1242212084647104514 …
The couple did not have coronavirus symptoms but took the chloroquine phosphate as a preventative measure. They feared contracting coronavirus.
The couple each mixed 1 tsp of chloroquine phosphate w soda.
-Within 20 minutes, they began experiencing severe sickness & called 911
"I was in the pantry stacking dog food and I just saw it sitting in the back shelf and thought, ‘Hey, isn’t that the stuff they’re talking about on TV?’ And it was."
Hillyard interviewed her from her hospital bed over the phone:
"This is the most horrible day of my life. And
it feels like, like my heart is broken and it’ll never mend. It’s just broke--dead. Like my husband."
"I’m 61. My husband is 68. We’re healthy. No, no, underlying--no diabetes or lung issues. Nothing."
"Oh my God. Don't take anything. Don't believe anything.
Don’t believe anything that the President says and his people because they don't know what they're talking about. And don't take anything--be so careful and call your doctor. This is a heart ache I'll never get over."
8:05 PM - Mar 23, 2020
Vaughn Hillyard @VaughnHillyard
"My husband was my whole life...please educate the people."
Just spoke with this Arizona woman. She's still in ICU. Please send her prayers & good energy.
I'll be posting more from our phone interview. https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1242212084647104514 …
7:46 PM - Mar 23, 2020
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