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Current Drug Delivery

Author(s): Shadma Wahab*, Irfan Ahmad, Shazia Usmani and Md. Parwez Ahmad

DOI: 10.2174/1567201817666201006144008

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Efficacy of Dexamethasone for the Treatment of COVID-19 Infection: A Perspective Review

Page: [546 - 554] Pages: 9

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Abstract

The current COVID-19 pandemic has provoked the urgent requirement to search for effective treatments since the implications are so huge globally as compared to the earlier pandemics. Momentarily, there has been no effective medicine for SARS-CoV-2 infection, and supportive care tends to be the most effective approach to treat COVID-19 patients. The rapidly growing awareness of SARS-CoV-2 virology offers a large number of possible drug targets. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is steadily updating the treatment protocol for COVID-19 based on the recent clinical trials. In the present review, we have summarised the possible mode of action, clinical evidence, consequences of dexamethasone as the therapeutic agent against Covid-19. Currently, many corticosteroids are being tested in ongoing randomised trials. Dexamethasone could come as the life-saving drug. Dexamethasone drug looks useful only in those patients who are already in a critical state. We might allow dexamethasone as a fascinating shot, if the drug proves to be clinically favourable for long-term health effects of Covid-19 recovered patients. It is commonly accepted to reinforce approved drugs in the fight against newly emerging diseases such as COVID-19 as these drugs have established pharmacokinetic profiles and protection. The current focus should be on the development of novel proven therapeutics along with vaccines. There is a need for high quality, more extensive, rapid and collaborative randomized controlled trials with more control groups.

Keywords: Dexamethasone, covid-19, pandemic, treatment, cytokine storm, SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Graphical Abstract

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