Hydroxychloroquine helped a New York City councilman recover from a severe case of COVID-19, according to the Democrat lawmaker.
“I couldn’t breathe, very weak, couldn’t get out of bed. My doctor prescribed it. My pharmacy had it. Took it that day and within two to three days I was able to breathe,” Councilman Paul Vallone told the New York Post. “Within a week I was back on my feet.”
COVID-19 is a disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Hydroxychloroquine is an anti-malarial that some researchers say has been successful against the disease but others warn could bring side effects to some patients.
Vallone said he took the drug in combination with azithromycin, an antibiotic also known as Z-Pak.
Vallone has sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease that affects multiple organs, primarily the lungs. People with underlying conditions are most at risk from COVID-19.
“We were in panic mode when I went down because I didn’t have a lot of immune response,” he told the paper. “I needed something to stay alive,” he said, adding that hydroxychloroquine “worked for me.”
Other lawmakers have also taken hydroxychloroquine, also known as HCQ or HQ, to combat COVID-19.
Michigan Rep. Karen Whitsett, a Democrat, credited the drug with saving her life earlier this year, along with GOP President Donald Trump, who touted the drug as a possible treatment for the disease.
“Had you not brought this to the forefront of—the HQ—of being able to put this out here, I wouldn’t be here today to even have this conversation with you and to be able to talk about the needs of Detroit and talk about the people who really need this,” she told Trump at the White House on April 14.
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) said last week he was planning on taking the drug to combat COVID-19 after testing positive.
Others have taken hydroxychloroquine as a prophylaxis—a way to try to prevent becoming infected—including El Salvador’s president and Trump. Researchers in India found the drug is effective as a prophylaxis.
Peter Vallone, a former New York City councilman and brother to Councilman Paul Vallone, has promoted the use of hydroxychloroquine.
“I guess all those doctors who are prescribing it are right. This drug is already on the market and the patent is up so it’s cheap. A new drug won’t be. So big money does not want this drug to be used. Always follow the money,” the former councilman wrote in a Facebook post in May, according to the Post.
Paul Vallone remarked on the post, writing that hydroxychloroquine “saved my life.”
