Abstract

 
 
 
 Purpose: To analyze drug information queries related to treatment with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), chloroquine (CQ), and azithromycin submitted to a local drug and poison information center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
 Methods: This retrospective study explored HCQ-, CQ-, and azithromycin-related inquiries submitted to the Drug and Poison Information Center at the Security Forces Hospital Program, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. These inquiries were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The quantitative analysis included the frequency of each request per year, the profession of the requesters, and the source material classification. A thematic analysis was also performed to categorize requests from healthcare professionals.
 Results: The Drug and Poison Information Center received 10,685 usable inquiries between 2005 and 2018. There were 160 CQ-, HCQ-, and azithromycin-related queries. Most requests were made by pharmacists (61.25 %). The main sources used to answer the queries were tertiary (92.31 %) and primary (7.69 %) sources. In the dataset, three major topics were identified: administration and dosing, safety, and pregnancy and lactation, each associated with a query subset.
 Conclusion: These results emphasize the importance of continued education on antimicrobial agents in general, and HCQ, CQ, and azithromycin in particular. The three items have been identified as focus areas that policymakers can us to ensure the quality of future medication prescriptions.
 
 
 
Highlights
The outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) originated in Wuhan, China, from where it quickly spread globally [1]
The objective of this study was to analyze drug information queries related to HCQ, CQ, and azithromycin treatments that were submitted to a local drug and poison information center (DPIC)
Between 2005 and 2018 and provide updated information regarding these queries. This retrospective study included all inquiries submitted between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2018 to the Drug & Poison Information Center (DPIC) at the Security Forces Hospital Program, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which is a tertiary care facility with over 500 beds that delivers healthcare to the Ministry of Interior employees and their families
Summary
The outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) originated in Wuhan, China, from where it quickly spread globally [1]. Most patients with COVID-19 are either asymptomatic or present with mild symptoms including fever, cough, and fatigue. HCQ has been approved by the US FDA for use in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis [4]. Both medications have excellent oral absorption and bioavailability with a long half-life, which only requires infrequent dosing to prevent and treat malaria [4]. Both treatments are reportedly inexpensive, widely available, safe, and their side effects are commonly mild and transient [4]
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