‘Remdesivir can raise sugar levels’: Use injection judiciously, warn doctors | Jaipur News

Remdesivir has been in huge demand after cases witnessed a massive surge

JAIPUR: Amid the rush for Remdesivir injection, the core team of Covid care and management again urged doctors to prescribe it judiciously as in several cases it led to a spike of sugar levels among patients.
In around 2,000 patients, it was seen that after completion of its six doses, a spike of sugar levels was seen among patients and it became problematic for those who were already diabetic.
Since critical Covid patients are also been given steroids, physicians treating them have been specifically asked to make judicious use of Remdesivir injections and also to monitor sugar levels.
Doctors have also asked patients who had been administered complete doses of Remdesivir and are now cured and at home to regularly monitor their sugar levels and to be in touch with their treating physician.
“Elevated sugar levels could also be a Covid symptom. Moreover, with medicines and Remdesivir, it further elevates. So, monitoring of blood sugar level of patients who are undergoing treatment and have been discharged from hospitals is necessary. There is no need to panic as the spike can be checked with temporary use of insulin,” said Dr Ajeet Singh, superintendent of RUHS on Thursday.
He added that pressure of attendants of patients is also forcing doctors to use Remdesivir. “There are certain parameters like HRCT of a patient and oxygen level which need to be checked and considered before administering Remdesivir. So, I would suggest doctors and relatives of patients not to go for Remdesivir as unnecessary use of it might put the patient in trouble,” he added.
Voicing similar concerns, Dr Sudhir Bhandari, principal and controller, SMS Medical College, who heads the core team said, “I have earlier said Remdesivir is no magic injection. We have to be careful while recommending it for patients. I think many patients whose HRCT score is below 8 and are maintaining good oxygen saturation should not be given the injection.”
Doctors of the core team said after the second wave they had studied the after effects of Remdesivir in many patients was increase in their sugar levels. “It should be recommended responsibly,” Bhandari added.