A well-known and cheap drug used for indigestion might prove to be a contender for treating people with milder infections of COVID-19, a new study shows.
The findings of a small case series published online in the journal Gut, showed relief kicked in within 24 to 48 hours of taking famotidine.
The study researchers say it is time now to test Pepcid in a rigorous clinical trial to see if the drug could be an effective treatment for COVID-19.
Famotidine belongs to a class of drugs known as histamine-2 receptor antagonists, which reduce the amount of stomach acid produced. It is taken to treat acid reflux and heartburn.
The researchers reported they studied 10 people ranging from 23-71 who developed COVID-19 infection, all of whom happened to have been taking famotidine during their illness, Eureka.org reported.
All started taking famotidine when they were feeling very poorly, and had symptoms for anywhere from two days to 26 days. All 10 patients said symptoms quickly improved within 24-48 hours of starting famotidine and had mostly cleared up after 14 days.
While promising, the researchers point out the findings might have been affected by "the placebo effect," or "hazy recall."
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