Trump Received Multiple Emergency COVID Medicines

The world knew Donald Trump was hospitalized for COVID treatment in October. Afterward, reports emerged that the former president was sicker than acknowledged. Now, a story adapted from a new book emphasizes the latter point and provides details on the all-out efforts made to treat Trump. Among the details in Nightmare Scenario: Inside the Trump Administration’s Response to the Pandemic That Changed History,' by Yasmeen Abutaleb, per the Washington Post:

• While still at the White House, Trump received an experimental treatment known as a monoclonal antibody, which required a sign-off by the FDA.
• He also received the antiviral drug remdesivir, which already was authorized for use but was in short supply. Trump also was given oxygen to help his breathing.
• "Typically, doctors space out treatments to measure a patient’s response. Some drugs, such as monoclonal antibodies, are most effective if they’re administered early in the course of an infection," per the story. "Others, such as remdesivir, are most effective when they’re given later, after a patient has become critically ill. But Trump’s doctors threw everything they could at the virus all at once." The president stabilized, but doctors, fearing he would still need a ventilator, had him moved to the hospital .

• Trump's condition worsened the following morning, a Saturday. When his oxygen level dropped to a dangerously low 93%, he was given the powerful steroid dexamethasone, which is generally reserved for the "extremely ill." Trump "was on a dizzying array of emergency medicines by now—all at once."
• By Saturday afternoon, however, Trump's condition began improving. Whether it was because of one of the drugs, or all in combination, remains unclear. By Monday night, he was back at the White House, giving a thumbs-up after removing his mask.

(Read the full story.)