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<\/div>\nTHURSDAY, June 18, 2020 — U.S. officials are trying to determine what to do with 63 million doses of hydroxychloroquine<\/a> after the Food and Drug Administration revoked authorization of the drug to treat COVID-19<\/a> patients.<\/p>\n The government started stockpiling donated supplies of the drug in late March after President Trump touted it as “very encouraging” and “very powerful” and a “game-changer,” despite no proof that it benefited COVID-19<\/a> patients.<\/p>\n In revoking its emergency use authorization of hydroxychloroquine<\/a> to treat COVID-19<\/a>, the FDA said Monday that there was “no reason to believe” it was effective against the new coronavirus, and that it increased the risk of heart<\/a> problems and other side effects, CNN<\/i> reported.<\/p>\n Along with 63 million doses of hydroxychloroquine, the Strategic National Stockpile also has 2 million donated doses of the related drug chloroquine<\/a>, according to Carol Danko, a Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson.<\/p>\n “HHS is working with the companies that donated the product to determine the available options for the product that remains in the Strategic National Stockpile,” Danko wrote in a statement to CNN<\/i>.<\/p>\n Hydroxychloroquine is used to treat diseases such as malaria<\/a>, rheumatoid arthritis<\/a>, lupus<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div>\n![\"MedicalNews\"](\"https:\/\/images.medicinenet.com\/images\/HealthDay\/healthday.png\")
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