ATTENDING physicians of former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada are not keen on giving Ivermectin to their patients because it was developed just for animals.
Interviewed over the television, the former President’s eldest son former Senator Jinggoy Estrada admitted that their family has had some serious talks on whether or not they should consider the idea of trying out Ivermectin for their ailing patriarch.
However, the younger Estrada said that doctors stood firm against the idea simply because Ivermectin is only for animals.
“I will not give Ivermectin to your dad because that is only for animals,” said Jinggoy, quoting doctors taking care of his father.
“I really have to follow the doctors’ advice,” he said.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier granted compassionate use permits to several hospitals who would want to administer Ivermectin on COVID-19 patients after several politicians advocated for its use in battling coronavirus.
Among the prominent politicians who admitted taking Ivermectin include 97-year old former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and concurrent Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
In Quezon City, partylist Rep. Mike Defensor has reportedly distributed Ivermectin among local folks. Interestingly, compassionate use permits do not legitimize distribution of the veterinary drug.
Asked how the doctors have been dealing with his dad, Jinggoy said that the former President has been administered with Leronlimab, adding that their physician dismissed the use of Linghua Qingwen, a popular Chinese drug claiming to have the potency and capability to contain symptoms of COVID-19.
“I consulted the doctors of my dad and they talked among themselves and they agreed to administer Leronlimab to my father,” he said.
Leronlimab is an “an investigational product which is still undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of Cancer, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)… and COVID-19,” according to the FDA.
Aside from Leronlimab, the older Estrada was also dosed with Remdesivir, a broad-spectrum antiviral medication.
“Maraming gamot na binibigay sa aking ama so I cannot credit kung ano nagpagaling sa kaniya,” he said.
Erap was admitted to the hospital earlier this month after testing positive for COVID-19. The former President was readmitted to the intensive care unit due to bacterial infection in his lungs, but is set to be transferred to a regular room on Monday, Jinggoy said.
“His blood pressure has already stabilized. His kidney function has already improved. His white blood cells, which rose to an alarming level of 35,000 has already decreased,” he said.
His doctors said that among intubated patients, only 54 percent survive, but in the hospital where he is confined, 75 percent of patients who have been intubated survive, Estrada’s eldest son said.
“Noong na-intubate ang daddy ko, we were already on the verge of tears… I hope na isa sa 75 percent ang daddy ko. You know naman my dad is a fighter,” he said.
Erap turned 84 today.