Antiviral Therapeutics

Antivirals may help during acute COVID-19 and reduce the risk of later long COVID. Retrospective studies on hydroxychloroquine cannot be considered definitive evidence without randomized controlled trial confirmation. Short-term antiviral courses did not meaningfully improve symptoms after long COVID became chronic. Azithromycin's putative benefit in COVID-19 is likely due to anti-inflammatory properties rather than its antibiotic mechanism, which is irrelevant to viral infection. Ivermectin prevents SARS-CoV-2 from disabling host immune signaling by blocking the nuclear import mechanism the virus exploits. Combined use of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin compounds QTc prolongation risk and can trigger torsades de pointes. The article argues that viral eradication should not be the primary recovery strategy once symptoms are chronic. Remdesivir is most likely to benefit patients if given early, but is typically administered to ventilated patients whose viral replication has already peaked.