Outpatient prescription patterns of COVID-19 drugs in the metropolitan area of Mexico City.

Maria F Fuentes-GonzalezAlberto Ordinola NavarroZully Carmona-AguileraCarlos A Hernández-JimenezGustavo M Benitez-AltamiranoLuis D Beltran-OntiverosCesar Lopez-VejarJuan P Ramirez-HinojosaOlga Vera-LastraBruno Ali López Luis

Published in: Family practice (2022)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a high proportion of prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine/azithromycin and dexamethasone despite their unproven efficacy. Analysis of Google Trends showed a strong correlation between the overall number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and searches for such drugs, suggesting a higher rate of prescriptions. Analysis of online searches could thus help to actively survey public health behaviours in the future.

Keyphrases

coronavirus disease
public health
sars cov
social media
low dose
high dose
respiratory syndrome coronavirus
health information
current status
healthcare
drug induced