A former spokesman for ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has detailed his experience with COVID-19 and the medications he took to get well.
Doyin Okupe, a medical doctor, shared this via his Facebook page.
In a post titled, ‘The medications I took for my COVID-19 virus infections,’ he said he used a combination of hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, Zinc sulphate and vitamin C.
In terms of dosages, Okupe wrote: “Hydroxychloroquine, 400mg daily for two days. Thereafter 400mg daily for three days.
“Azithromycin 500mg daily for 10 days. Zinc sulphate 100mg daily till today. Vitamin C 1,200 mg daily till now.”
How it started
Explaining his journey to the world of COVID-19 global pandemic, Okupe said, “I had malaria while on admission. Was effectively treated with an anti-malarial. I also developed cough after about a week and was effectively treated by fairly large dose of Augmentine for seven days.”
Confirming the World Health Organisation’s warning that, so far, there is no vaccine for coronavirus, as also corroborated by Nigerian physicians who said there is no definitive treatment for the contagion, Okupe wrote, “I must say that there is no universal medical consensus on a specific treatment regime for COVID-19.”
Continuing, he said, “Also most of the drugs being used in different centres worldwide are not backed by any detailed or extensive research work anywhere in the world.
“Most scientific works and studies currently going on have limited scientific acceptability, either because the samples used are too scanty — sometimes as low as 40 to 60 — or because controls do not exist.”
“It will take another four to six months before results of credible works are available,” he warned. Global scientists say the world may not expect a cure before 2021.
“However the humongous nature of the global emergency make it impossible for countries not to explore experimental drugs that show any possibility or potential to contain the virus,” Okupe added.
“In my own case, I commenced treatment with the hydroxychloroquine regime four days to my isolation. This was because I read extensively on various options of treatment for COVID-19 and I followed the global debate on the pros and cons of the treatment.
“With my medical background and consultations locally with colleagues, I already made up my mind that the chloroquine regime was so far the most promising.
“I ordered for the drugs just in case someone close or even I should unfortunately pick up the virus.”
No self- medication
Warning against self medication by those who have heart condition like he does, the physician-turned-politician said, “I must warn here that if you have cardiac arrhythmia, you will need to consult your physician before you take hydroxychloroquine. I did;” adding, “So, I was advised to use 200mg twice daily instead of 400mg twice daily for two days.”
Revealing that his his wife was also infected, Okupe wrote, “Before the arrival of the results of the swab tests, I put my wife and I on the treatment.
“My low-grade fever disappeared completely and my wife’s bone pains too.
“Personally, I believe the chloroquine combination, which is the official treatment regime in Ogun State, actually works.
Patient’s immunity determines treatment course
“Lagos uses anti-viral drugs and they also get good results. However, the scientific truth we know about treatment for viral infection is that ultimately, what eventually works is the innate capability of the immune system of individual patients.
“It is the immunity level that eventually decides the course of the infection in each individual. That is why age and coexisting co-mobidity factors,
like obesity, hypertension and diabetes or renal diseases are crucial to survival and wellbeing of infected patients.
“This is what gives younger people better prospects with the virus. Hence, for those who are not sick, you should ingest immune-boosting drugs and preparations like zinc sulphate, Immunace, Reload and similar immunity-enhancing drugs.”
Ginger, garlic, others
“I also took copious amount of ginger, garlic, turmeric and lemon. In Kaduna, I am told that they add dongoyaro (neem) leaves to the above mixture and drink liberally.
How COVID-19 ravages the body
“As a tip also, it is known that when the virus first gain access to the body, it stays in the nasal cavity and the throat for two to three days.
“In this position, the virus itself is vulnerable. It does naturally in temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius. If, at this stage, you can consume large quantities of hot water with lemon frequently, you can abort the attack.
“The good news is that 90 to 95 per cent of infected people will recover and some even without hospitalisation.”
How to avoid COVID-19 infection
He then went ahead to offer advice on how to avoid the contagion: “Pursue personal safety at whatever cost. Stay at home. Don’t visit and don’t receive visitors. Family or friends. Check drivers, maids and aides. Since it may be difficult to gauge their compliance, either reduce to the barest minimum or do without. Those that must stay must be made to be resident and movements restricted.
“Maintain physical distancing if you must go out. Comply with the hygiene protocols as recommended by NCDC.
“All these inconveniences will probably be over by July or latest August 2023 [sic??]. So we can all endure.
“In the meantime, fortify yourself daily with immune boosters. At the slightest sign of trouble, fever, catarrh and or cough, get help instant[ly].”