New Drug Could Lessen COVID-19 Symptoms

A new treatment could help some New Brunswick adults experiencing mild-to-moderate COVID-19 symptoms.

Physicians are now able to prescribe a steroid called budesonide on a case-by-case basis to those who meet certain criteria.

The medication is inhaled through a turbuhaler device two times a day over a 14-day period.

Dr. Gordon Dow, regional infectious diseases medical director with Horizon Health, said while the drug has not been approved by Health Canada for this use, two trials out of the United Kingdom have shown promising results.

“This is good news because, up until now, we have not really had much to offer our symptomatic outpatients with COVID-19 in Canada,” said Dow.

“This isn’t life-saving therapy, but it is going to be a benefit to our patients. It’s going to assist patients in getting better faster and it may even reduce their need to seek attention by health care.”

According to Dow, one of the two trials showed the medication can shorten the length of COVID-19 symptoms by up to three days.

The second study suggested that the medication, if started within seven days of symptoms, can reduce the number of visits a patient would make to their health care provider or to emergency departments.

“These are two preliminary high-quality studies. There are six more studies pending on this drug in outpatients with COVID,” said Dow.

This is the first treatment recommended for this patient population by Horizon’s Infectious Disease / Medical Microbiology Advisory Group, which Dow is the co-chair of.

But the infectious disease specialist said the drug will not be used on all adults experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

Adults must be over the age of 40 — or have risk factors for complications or severe disease — and not be admitted to hospital with COVID-19.

Those who are almost recovered, are currently prescribed inhaled or systemic corticosteroids, or are unable to use an inhaler will not be considered for the drug.

Horizon said the medication is currently endorsed as an off-label treatment in British Columbia and the UK.