Donald Trump Reveals He's Been Taking Unproven Anti-Malaria Drug To Prevent Coronavirus

US President Donald Trump has revealed he's been taking an anti-malaria drug for around 10 days to help prevent himself from contracting coronavirus.

Trump has been touting the benefits of hydroxychloroquine for weeks, although studies showed it is not effective in the fight against Covid-19.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) actually warned against taking the drug for coronavirus as it can significantly increase the risk of death in people, especially those with heart problems.

The ruling added that the drug has 'not been shown to be safe and effective' as a treatment for Covid-19.

Despite this, Tump told reporters at a press briefing: "I'm taking it - hydroxychloroquine. Right now yeah. A couple of weeks ago, started taking it.

PA

"I'm taking the two - the zinc and the hydroxy. So far I seem to be okay. I have been taking it for about a week and a half. Every day. I take a pill every day. At some point I'll stop."

Hydroxychloroquine is also used to treat auto-immune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Trump says there have been no side effects to taking the drugs so far.

Despite his own FDA guidelines warning against it as a treatment for the virus, Trump says he's been taking it every day because he's heard some 'good stories' about its effectiveness.

PA

"You'd be surprised at how many people are taking it, especially the front line workers before you catch it, the front line workers, many, many are taking it," he told reporters.

When he was pushed to reveal what evidence he had to support taking it, he replied with: "Here's my evidence, I get a lot of positive calls about it.

"I've heard a lot of good stories. And if it is not good, I will tell you right. I'm not going to get hurt by it. It has been around for 40 years for malaria, for lupus, for other things. I take it.

"You're not going to get sick or die. I've taken it about for a week and a half now. And I'm still here."

Donald Trump has not been diagnosed with coronavirus and says he has consulted the White House physician about taking the drug.

Topics: Coronavirus, US News, Donald Trump

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie