Desrem Injection is a broad-spectrum antiviral medicine. It is used for the treatment of suspected or laboratory-confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults and children hospitalized with severe disease. The medicine decreases the viral load in the body and speeds up the recovery process.
Desrem Injection works by inhibiting an RNA-dependent enzyme called RNA polymerase that helps the SARS-CoV-2 virus make more copies of itself. It is given as an injection into veins under the supervision of a doctor. You should take this medicine only at the prescription of your doctor. Take it only as per the dose and duration suggested by your doctor. You should not self-medicate this medicine.
The most common side effects of this medicine include anemia, fever, acute kidney injury, increased blood glucose, and increased transaminases. If you experience any allergic reactions after taking the medicine or if any of the side effects bother you, you should let your doctor know.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should let your doctor know. It should be given with caution in the elderly or pediatric population.
Uses:
Treatment of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Directions For Use:
Your doctor or nurse will give you this medicine. Compassionately do not self administer.
Side Effects:
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Ordinary side effects of Desrem
Headache
Rash
Extravasation
Increased prothrombin time
Increased transaminase level in blood
Warning & Precautions:
Alcohol
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
It is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Desrem Injection. Please consult your doctor.
Pregnancy
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
The safety of Desrem Injection during pregnancy has not been established. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women, and animal data on reproductive toxicity are insufficient. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing.
Breast feeding
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Desrem Injection may be unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug may pass into the breastmilk and harm the baby. It should be used only if the expected benefit outweighs the potential risk. Please consult your doctor.
Driving
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
It is not known whether Desrem Injection alters the ability to drive. Do not drive if you experience any symptoms that affect your ability to concentrate and react. Please consult your doctor.
Kidney
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
There is limited data available on the use of Desrem Injection in patients with kidney disease. Please consult your doctor.
Liver
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
There is limited data available on the use of Desrem Injection in patients with liver disease.
FAQs:
What is Covid-19?
Coronavirus disease 2019, better known as Covid-19, is an illness of the lungs caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2), which is seen to infect humans for the very first time. Covid-19 is a highly infectious viral disease that spreads from one person to another at a very fast pace. Persons suffering from Covid-19 are likely to have breathing difficulties, fever and cough as the major symptoms.
What is Desrem Injection? What is it used for?
Desrem Injection is a medicine that belongs to a class of medicines called antiviral medicines. In recent laboratory studies, Desrem Injection has shown to be effective in managing hospitalized patients suffering from severe Covid-19 infection. Although Desrem Injection has not been approved for treating Covid-19 patients, some studies suggest that patients who were treated with Desrem Injection showed faster recovery compared to those who were taking some other treatment. However, the safety and efficiency of Desrem Injection in the treatment of Covid-19 is yet to be established and there are many clinical trials going on for the same.
What is Emergency Employ Authorization?
Emergency Employ Authorization (EUA) is a declaration issued by the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDA) to use certain medicines, vaccines or devices to diagnose, treat or prevent a serious medical condition (such as Covid-19 in the current scenario) in case there is an outbreak of such an illness that poses threat to public health. FDA may not approve the use of any such medical measures but may still allow it to be used against the illness weighing the benefits against the risks involved.
How is Desrem Injection administered?
Desrem Injection is administered only in hospitalized patients, both children as well as adults, who have severe Covid-19 infection, as an injection intravenously (into a vein) by a doctor only and should not be self-administered. Severe Covid-19 infection means those patients whose oxygen saturation (SpO2) ≤94% on room air or those who require supplemental oxygen, mechanical ventilation, and/or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully to get maximum benefit from Desrem Injection.
Who can be treated with Desrem Injection?
EUA has recently permitted the use of Desrem Injection in managing only hospitalized patients who are suspected to have or are suffering from severe Covid-19 infection, as it has shown quicker recovery in both adults and children who are facing serious breathing difficulties due to severe Covid-19 infection.
How does Desrem Injection work?
Desrem Injection is still being studied in the various ongoing clinical trials. So far, it is seen that Desrem Injection inhibits replication of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes Covid-19), a process by which this virus multiplies and helps in spreading the infection. In this way the amount of virus in the human body decreases, thereby leading to faster recovery.
What are the possible side effects of Desrem Injection?
The possible side effects of Desrem Injection may be anemia (low number of red blood cells), fever, kidney damage, nausea, vomiting, shivering, sweating, low blood pressure and increased levels of liver enzymes. However, these are not all of the side effects of Desrem Injection and we are yet to know more of the side effects. Desrem Injection and its use in treating Covid-19 is still being studied and evaluated. Therefore, it is important to know that there might be more risks involved with the use of Desrem Injection.
Is Desrem Injection safe?
There is limited data available to support the safety or effectiveness of Desrem Injection in managing hospitalized patients with severe Covid-19 patients. Its use has been permitted for treating severely infected hospitalized patients, both adults and children, only after weighing the benefits against the possible side effects and risks involved. However, there are various ongoing clinical trials and the safety of Desrem Injection is yet to be established in patients receiving it.
Can a pregnant woman infected with Covid-19 be treated with Desrem Injection?
There is limited data available regarding the use of Desrem Injection in treating Covid-19 patients. The safety and efficacy of Desrem Injection in pregnant or breastfeeding mothers is not known yet. If you are planning a baby, pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your doctor if you are tested positive for Covid-19 or even if you are suspected of Covid-19 infection. Your doctor will decide what is best for you depending on your condition.
What should I tell my doctor before receiving Desrem Injection?
Earlier receiving Desrem Injection, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, such as kidney or liver problems, any serious illnesses such as heart disease or diabetes, including any allergies. Let your doctor know if you have been taking any medications (prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, or herbal products) for any other illnesses. This is because Desrem Injection may affect or be affected by the way other medicines work. Especially tell your doctor if you are taking any medicines containing chloroquine phosphate or hydroxychloroquine sulfate. Increaseitionally, you should inform your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding to prevent any harm to the baby.
I have diabetes and high blood pressure, can I take Desrem Injection to prevent Covid-19?
No. Desrem Injection should not be used to prevent Covid-19. There is no data available for its role in preventing Covid-19.
Can Desrem Injection be given to a highly suspected patient who is COVID negative on all reports?
Desrem Injection has been approved by Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) in view of the ongoing pandemic for emergency use only. Therefore, it should not be used as a preventive therapy for suspected cases. You should use Desrem Injection only in proven COVID patients, where clinically indicated.
Written by:
Dr. T. Sharmila Krishna
M.B.B.S., MD (Biochemistry)
Reviewed by:
Dr. Sureshbabu Yadav
M.B.B.S., DIP.DIAB, F.R.S.H
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