 The FDA is working to address the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak and keep you and your family informed on the latest developments. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions from consumers about treatments, at-home tests, and hand sanitizer. Q: Are there any FDA-approved drugs (medicines) for COVID-19? A: So far, the FDA has approved one treatment for COVID-19, and has authorized others for emergency use during this public health emergency. The FDA has approved Veklury (remdesivir) for certain COVID-19 patients. Additionally, during public health emergencies, the FDA may in certain circumstances authorize use of unapproved drugs or unapproved uses of approved drugs for life-threatening conditions when there are no adequate, approved, and available options, and other conditions are met. This is called an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Researchers are studying new drugs, and medicines that are already approved for other health conditions, as possible treatments for COVID-19. The FDA created the Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program (CTAP) to use every available method to move new treatments to patients. Additionally, the FDA is working with the National Institutes of Health, drug manufacturers, researchers, and other partners to accelerate the development process for COVID-19 treatments. FDA's Sentinel System is being used to monitor the use of drugs, describe the course of illness among hospitalized patients, and evaluate the treatment impact of therapies actively being used under real-world conditions. For more information, read Know Your Treatment Options for COVID-19. Q: Are there any at-home tests for COVID-19? A: Yes. There are now FDA-authorized COVID-19 tests sold online and in stores that can be used completely at home. At-home tests allow you to collect your own sample and test it with a system that gives you results in minutes at home. The FDA also has authorized some tests sold online and in stores that allow you to collect your own sample and then send it to a laboratory for analysis. For more information, read Coronavirus Disease 2019 Testing Basics.
Q: Why has the FDA placed alcohol-based hand sanitizers from Mexico on import alert? A: During the coronavirus pandemic, the FDA has seen a sharp increase in hand sanitizer products from Mexico that were labeled to contain ethanol (also called ethyl alcohol) but contained methanol (or wood alcohol). Methanol can be toxic when absorbed through the skin and life-threatening when ingested. Methanol is not an acceptable ingredient in hand sanitizer. Recently, the FDA placed all alcohol-based hand sanitizers from Mexico on a country-wide import alert to help prevent entry into the U.S. of potentially dangerous products until we can review the product's safety. FDA analyses of alcohol-based hand sanitizers from Mexico found that 84 percent of the samples we analyzed from April through December 2020 were not in compliance with FDA regulations. To stay informed, visit the FDA's Hand Sanitizers and COVID-19 page. Also, read Safely Using Hand Sanitizer and take our hand sanitizer quiz. For the latest information about COVID-19, visit: | 
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