New Delhi, 17th July 2020: At a time when low-cost drugs capable of treating mild to moderate symptoms of COVID- 19 virus are making headlines, leading gynecologists of Pune and Delhi NCR have advised use of antivirals that are proven to be safe for pregnant and lactating women as the economical drugs that are showing promising results may harm the foetus and the new-born.
Citing that there is no verified data on the impact of favipiravir on pregnant and lactating women, Dr Ranjana Becon, Consultant Gyanecologist, Columbia Asia Hospital, Ghaziabad says “We don’t know the effects but the World Health Organization’s (WHO) authorises off-label use of medicines for COVID-19 as a part of its monitored emergency use of unregistered and experimental interventions (MEURI). Some drugs which have shown results, such as remdesivir, though not really low-cost, are also part of WHO’s Solidarity trial. The US FDA has clearly stated that remdesivir should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk for the mother and the foetus. There are several antivirals which have been safely used on pregnant and breastfeeding women, which can be used now also as the first line of treatment.”
Cost-effective drugs like favipiravir are showing promising results in treating mild to moderate COVID-19 positive patients but administering the drug on pregnant and breastfeeding women can harm the child. According to studies, the drug has been found to cause severe developmental abnormalities in foetus. Though it has been designated as safe for people with comorbidities such as diabetes and heart disease, those who have chronic and comorbid conditions involving kidney and liver should not be administered the drug as well, irrespective of whether they are men or women, pregnant or lactating,” says Dr Gauri Agarwal, Founder, Seeds of Innocence, New Delhi.
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