The CIA told its employees that an anti-malarial drug pushed by President Trump as a treatment for the coronavirus has potentially dangerous side effects, including death.
The message was posted in late March on a website for CIA employees with questions about the spread of the virus, according to the Washington Post, after Trump promoted hydroxychloroquine as a “game-changer” drug in the fight against the coronavirus.
The warning came in response to an employee’s question about whether the drug should be taken without a prescription.
“At this point, the drug is not recommended to be used by patients except by medical professionals prescribing it as part of ongoing investigational studies. There are potentially significant side effects, including sudden cardiac death, associated with hydroxychloroquine and its individual use in patients need to be carefully selected and monitored by a health care professional,” read the answer.
In bold typeface, the advice continued, “Please do not obtain this medication on your own.”
Medical experts have urged caution, saying the drug’s success with coronavirus patients has thus far been anecdotal. The drug has been used for decades to treat malaria and has also been used by patients who have lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
“I’m not going to address any specifics, but information the CIA provides to our global workforce has been — and will continue to be — consistent with the CDC and White House guidance,” a CIA spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.
