TIRANA, Nov 5 /ATA/ The head of National Emergency, Skënder Brataj, on Thursday appealed to the citizens to be cautious about using the antivirals and unauthorized drugs.
Specifically, Brataj brings to attention the antiviral “Favipiravir (Avigan)” saying that its use is unauthorized in Europe.
“Given the upward tendency to use certain antivirals, unauthorized medications, I would like to draw the attention of citizens to their use. “Aifa (Italian Drug Agency) states that: the use of Favipiravir for COVID-19 is not authorized in Europe and the US, there is little scientific evidence on its effectiveness,” said Brataj.
Regarding the latest information circulating on the Internet and in the press about the use of this medicinal product for treatment of COVID-19, according to Brataj, the Italian Drug Agency specifies that Favipiravir (brand name Avigan) is an authorized antiviral in Japan since March 2014 for the treatment of forms of influenza caused by new or re-emerging influenza viruses and its use is limited to cases where other antivirals are ineffective. The medicine, Brataj informs, is not authorized in Europe or in the USA.
“To date, there are no clinical studies on the efficacy and safety of the drug in the treatment of COVID-19. The data so far have not been assessed by experts. Although the available data seem to suggest a possible activity of favoripiravir, against the virus, there is a lack of evidence on actual efficacy in clinical use and on disease evolution. “
“Doses used with 8 or 16 tablets at a time, ie in a single dose, need to be carefully evaluated due to their toxic effects on the liver,” declares Brataj
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