A Review on the Toxic Effects of Medicines used in Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Treatment

Abstract

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic is affecting all around the world, particularly healthcare systems. The most critical problem for the COVID-19 infection as an emerging acute respiratory disease is the lack of effective methods to control and treat the disease. To date, there is no specific therapeutic agent approved by the FDA, so treatment options are limited. There are more than 4034 interventional studies in progress listed in clinicaltrials.org (Access date: 21.12.2021). This number was 900 approximately in December 2020. These intensive studies, which have increased fourfold, are to find a safe and effective treatment method. Since absolute therapy has not been standardized globally, the treatment approach varies from country to country and even from hospital to hospital. In addition to the vaccine studies that have been finalized and the vaccines are available for use, additional studies are underway for existing drugs that can prevent this disease or improve outcomes for COVID patients. The potential toxicity of the drugs chosen for the treatment is one of the more critical limiting factors. Although the side effects of previously approved medicines are known, studies are needed to determine the side effect profiles for newly approved products such as remdesivir. In this review, we gathered the adverse and toxic effects of medications used against COVID-19 treatment according to the COVID guideline published by the Scientific Advisory Board of the Ministry of Health of Turkey.