Top 10 Treatments proven to Fight COVID-19 (June 2023)

As of June 2023, there are more than 9,000 studies that have been launched to investigate various treatments for COVID-19. You can review the details of these trials on ClinicalTrials.gov. New ones are being added every day. The aim of this article is to organise and summarise relevant information in one place. Below, we look at the top 10 most tested and most watched categories.

When interpreting scientific studies, it is important to remember that not all reviews are equally reliable or up to date. If you wish to gain a more comprehensive understanding, it is advisable to conduct a thorough examination of the papers, paying attention to the study dates and the number of studies included. Many reviews and guidelines may rely on outdated studies or fail to consider the full range of relevant research. By delving deeper into the literature, you can obtain a more accurate and comprehensive assessment of the subject matter.

Top 10 Treatments proven to Fight COVID-19

Irrespective of the type of variant, early treatment is more effective than late treatment or no treatment, as shown in the figure below:

The C19early.org website has continuously updated the evidence-based research on early COVID-19 treatments since June 2020. The website is so exhaustively comprehensive that it could be considered a journal in itself, produced by a team of competent, committed editors.

Although this singular resource has been developed and posted anonymously, one observer commented on Reddit, “It doesn’t really matter who built it, IMO. All studies are referenced/linked.”

As of June 2023, it has more than 2,800 COVID-19 treatment studies published, covering more than 800 treatments. New ones are being added almost on a daily basis.

The studies for COVID’s readily-available, low-cost, and evidence-based early treatments are divided into sections: Ivermectin, Proxalutamide, Budesonide, Vitamin D, Quercetin, Hydroxychloroquine, Vitamin C, Zinc and many more.

A comprehensive database and global list of COVID-19 treatment studies and outcomes, divided into early treatment and late treatment results, and complete with links and abstracts, is available at this site.

The project has kept up with the recent highly encouraging work on many treatments for COVID-19. Each of these treatment links can be opened to reveal a gold mine of further information.

Most doctors know the need to focus now on early treatment as the most immediate and practical way to reduce hospitalisations, death and risk of long haul. This is your guide to help you know your options, and to use with your personal physician.

The website has a long list of treatments and a gold mine of information. That said, it could be overwhelming for an average reader. Therefore, we have summarised and curated the top 10 most important treatments below.

1. Ivermectin

While this treatment has generated controversy, we have included it in order to acknowledge its popularity and provide a more balanced perspective.

As of June 2023, there are more than 70 on-going trials on Ivermectin registered on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Even with successful vaccines and other preventable measures in place, the availability of outpatient treatments with solid evidence has a critical role to play in ending this pandemic.

The use of ivermectin for COVID-19 has been controversial and slapped with 'misinformation' labels for the past 2 years. Ivermectin is a medication widely used in low- and middle-income countries to treat parasitic worm infections in adults and children. It’s been used for decades for this purpose by over 3.7 billion people, and is considered safe and effective. It has an increasing list of indications due to its antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, and is included on the WHO’s Model List of Essential Medicines.

Some doctors and media channels argue that there is very little evidence to support the use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19. 

You can find a summary of more than 90 studies on ivermectin done by more than 800 authors from c19ivermectin.com (constantly updated); in addition, a meta-analysis of all studies can be found at ivmeta.com (constantly updated). When interpreting meta-analysis or systematic review, note the date of the publication and the no. of RCTs (randomized controlled trials) that are included in the review. As of June 2023, ivermectin has 46 published RCTs. In light of this available evidence, how much more evidence is enough?

For adoption and regulatory status of ivermectin globally, check out "Countries using Ivermectin".

Based on the above references, it's also obvious why ivermectin is selected in our top 10 list.

Concerns and Cautions:

• Ivermectin has a number of potentially serious drug-drug interactions. Please check for potential drug interaction at Ivermectin Drug Interactions - Drugs.com. The most important drug interactions occur with cyclosporin, tacrolimus, anti-retroviral drugs, and certain anti-fungal drugs. 
• Ivermectin is also lipophilic and therefore, bioavailability is maximised on a full stomach; or best to be taken with meal.

2. Hydroxychloroquine

While this treatment has generated controversy as well, we have included it in order to acknowledge its popularity and provide a more balanced perspective.

The drug stopped the coronavirus from replicating in test tubes. US physicians are free to write prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19, since it is an approved drug. This is called off-label use.

Hydroxychloroquine, developed in the 1950s from chloroquine, an old anti-malarial drug, is registered in around 60 countries under trade names such as Plaquenil, Quensyl and Plaquinol.

 

Hydroxychloroquine, a less toxic derivative of Chloroquine is also a widely used medication by people with lupus or arthritis. 

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is not effective when used very late with high dosages over a long period (RECOVERY/SOLIDARITY), effectiveness improves with earlier usage and improved dosing. Early treatment consistently shows positive effects. Negative evaluations typically ignore treatment time, often focusing on a subset of late stage studies.

The evidence tracking on Hydroxychloroquine versus COVID-19 is available at c19hcq.com (constantly updated).

3. Dietary Supplements (Vitamin D, C, Zinc, Quercetin and Melatonin)

There are more than 100 types of supplements that are being tested for COVID-19. You can review the details of these trials on clinicaltrials.gov. 

Please be aware that for optimal effectiveness, it is important to consider that each supplement should not be viewed as a standalone intervention, as many supplements are administered as part of combination protocols. Additionally, the interaction between nutrients should also be taken into account. For instance, vitamin C and zinc should be administered together with copper. Similarly, vitamin D3 should be taken alongside vitamin K2 and magnesium.

Quercetin, Hydroxychloroquine, EGCG and Zinc are among the handful of COVID-19 treatments that are being studied as candidates that might influence the outcome in the prevention and management of COVID-19. Hydroxychloroquine, Quercetin and EGCG (EpiGalloCatechin Gallate) are all zinc ionophores. Meaning they all transport zinc into the cells.

The combination of quercetin, zinc, vitamin D, vitamin C and melatonin offer a high virus inhibiting and anti-inflammatory potential with a valuable degree of safety at a time of great uncertainty.

That said, based on the evidence on C19Early database, a combination of vitamin D, quercetin, black seed oil, vitamin A, curcumin and melatonin might even offer a greater probability of improvement if given as early treatment.

 

Quercetin, zinc, vitamin D and C are all part of the FLCCC I-CARE early treatment protocol.

Nutrients and supplements are safer alternatives especially if your risk is low e.g. age below 50 and no other chronic illness. Discuss with your doctor on the benefit vs risk for each treatment. If you are on multiple medications, be aware of supplement-drug interactions that might enhance the possibilities of adverse effects.

However, if your risk is high e.g. age above 60, hypertensive, diabetic and obese; you might wish to consult a doctor and discuss more potent alternatives in the FLCCC I-CARE protocol.

Note: The dosages for prevention and treatment protocols are different as the risks and benefits are different for different situations. Prevention protocol is for those who are not COVID-19 positive and the treatment protocol is for those who are COVID-19 positive. Do take note that 'early' treatment is important for the best possible outcome.

4. Paxlovid and COVID-19

Paxlovid is a combination of two antiviral pills: nirmatrelvir and ritonavir. 

Paxlovid is authorized for adults and children ages 12 and older that weigh at least 88 pounds (40 kg). Paxlovid is currently only recommended for people at high risk of developing severe COVID-19. High-risk people include older adults and those with certain medical conditions.

The latest (last updated: April 20, 2023) NIH guidelines recommended Paxlovid as the no. 1 preferred therapy for non-hospitalized patients.

Locations in the USA that may have Paxlovid available can be found at: https://covid-19-therapeutics-locator-dhhs.hub.arcgis.com.

The drug, Paxlovid (ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir), is a faster, cheaper way to treat early COVID-19 infections, though initial supplies will be extremely limited. All of the previously authorised drugs against the disease require an IV (intravenous) or an injection. The updated provider Fact Sheet, Letter of Authorization, and Dear Healthcare Provider Letter​ are available for reference.

Precaution: PAXLOVID is not recommended (the appropriate dose has not been determined) in patients with severe renal impairment (<30 mL/min). (Source)

5. Povidone Iodine, Mouthwash and Nasal Spray

Due to the presence of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in the oral gingival epithelium and salivary glands, the human oral cavity may act as a reservoir for SARS-CoV-2. The ACE2 present on the host cell membrane acts as the primary entry receptor for SARS-CoV-2. Evidence indicates that the saliva of SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals contains high amounts of viral RNA and that aerosols formed from the saliva can act as a potential vector for viral transmission.

Povidone iodine (PVP-I) is an antiseptic that has been used for over 150 years. It's already proven that different concentration of PVP-I can deactivate COVID-19 virus. 

The antiseptic povidone-iodine has immediate virucidal effects against COVID-19 virus. There are 20 published studies on povidone-iodine for COVID-19 (c19pvpi.com) with one study showing an 88% lower risk of death, if given early.

6. Azithromycin and Antibiotics

Azithromycin is a widely prescribed generic antibiotic. Yes, we do know that COVID-19 is a viral disease and we need an anti-viral and not an anti-bacterial?

While it's mainly used to fight bacteria, not viruses, there is some research suggesting the drug has antiviral properties.

As of June 2023, there are more than 140 studies that have been launched to investigate the benefits of Azithromycin against COVID-19. You can review the status of these trials on clinicaltrials.gov.

Several trials are testing azithromycin in combination with hydroxychloroquine.

Secondary bacterial infection of the lung (pneumonia) was extremely common in patients with COVID-19, affecting almost half the patients who required support from mechanical ventilation. By applying machine learning to medical record data, scientists at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine found that secondary bacterial pneumonia that does not resolve was a key driver of death in patients with COVID-19. It may even exceed death rates from the viral infection itself.

The scientists also found evidence that COVID-19 does not cause a "cytokine storm," so often believed to cause death.

The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation (2023).

"Our study highlights the importance of preventing, looking for and aggressively treating secondary bacterial pneumonia in critically ill patients with severe pneumonia, including those with COVID-19," said senior author Dr. Benjamin Singer, an associate professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Northwestern Medicine pulmonary and critical care physician.

One potential concern of azithromycin is serious heart side effects. Both drugs can cause abnormal changes in the rhythm of the heart. These can be fatal, particularly for susceptible patients who already have heart problems. Many studies are using EKG tests to closely monitors patients receiving this treatment combination.

While QT-prolonging medication use has been associated with increased risk of death, this risk may be smaller than the potential benefit from treatment of COVID-19 for some patients (American College of Cardiology).

7. Vitamin A

Summary results of 10 vitamin A and COVID-19 studies are available on this dedicated webpage: c19early.com/va. 

Based on this early treatment mortality studies drug league table below, vitamin A might even out-perform vitamin D, ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine:

That said, most clinicians will use the multi-drug or combination approach to get the best outcome. Further, the sorting of the table above is based on only 1 vitamin A study.

8. Curcumin (Turmeric) - Anti-inflammatory and anti-viral

Curcumin, a yellow carotenoid from turmeric, is a nutritional therapeutic recommended as part of the FLCCC I-CARE early treatment protocol, and has antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immune modulating properties.

There are more than 20 completed studies of curcumin in COVID-19 that suggest that it improves clinical outcome of patients.

Curcumin also acts as natural zinc ionophores and can promote the cellular uptake of zinc and can be used with zinc to increase the effectiveness of these compounds in the inhibition of the virus (Ref).

The improvement rate of 84% has made curcumin ranked No. 6 in the COVID-19 early treatment mortality (death rate) studies league table, better than ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine and quercetin.

9. Probiotics - Anti-inflammatory

Probiotics are living non-pathogenic microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, can have a positive impact on health. Bacteria in the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera, as well as Streptococcus thermophiles and Saccharomyces boulardii, are examples of common probiotics (Ref).

You can find more than 20 published clinical studies on probiotics and COVID-19 from c19probiotics.com (constantly updated). 

The improvement rate of 61% has made probiotics ranked No. 7 in the COVID-19 all mortality (death rate) studies league table, better than ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine and quercetin.

10. Other Potential Treatments

There are over two dozen compounds that have shown effectiveness in treating COVID-19. For a list of COVID-19 early treatment studies, check out c19early.com (constantly updated).

Please check this page regularly for updates – new natural alternatives may be added and/or dose changes to existing alternatives may be made as further scientific studies emerge.

As you can see from the treatment league table above, some of the 'natural alternatives' (including diet (R) and exercise (R)) might even perform better than synthetic drugs.

Summary

The combination of quercetin, zinc, vitamin D, vitamin C and melatonin offer a high virus inhibiting and anti-inflammatory potential with a valuable degree of safety at a time of great uncertainty.

That said, based on the above evidence, a combination of vitamin D, quercetin, black seed oil, vitamin A and melatonin might even offer a greater probability of improvement if given as early treatment.

 

Quercetin, zinc, vitamin D and C are part of the FLCCC's I-CARE protocol.

Nutrients and supplements are safer alternatives especially if your risk is low e.g. age below 50 and no other chronic illness. Discuss with your doctor on the benefit vs risk for each treatment. If you are on multiple medications, be aware of supplement-drug interactions that might enhance the possibilities of adverse effects.

However, if your risk is high e.g. age above 60, hypertensive, diabetic and obese; you might wish to consult a doctor and discuss more potent alternatives in the FLCCC's I-CARE protocol.

If you review most of the above studies, you will find a very common theme among most of the studies. A key highlight is that 'early treatment' results tend to be better than 'late treatment' results. Therefore, the most important takeaway is to get 'early treatment'. That said, you should never attempt to self medicate without the guidance of a licensed medical provider. If you are not a medical doctor, you are likely to find the information above overwhelming. 

Please also follow other precautions and measures (as advised by your local health authorities and doctors) in order to minimize your risk.

Treatments do not replace vaccines and other measures. All practical, effective, and safe means should be used. Elimination is a race against viral evolution. No treatment, vaccine, or intervention is 100% available and effective for all variants.

Z-Stack Supplement

In an effort to make it easier for patients, Dr Zelenko has developed an oral supplement that contains all four key ingredients: vitamin C, quercetin, vitamin D3 and zinc. It’s referred to as 'Z-Stack Supplement'.

Z-Stack Vitamin cocktail provides key ingredients needed in order to help your body fight off this deadly invader. The Z-Stack Vitamins are Kosher certified, GMP certified and made in the USA.

The cost of the Z-STACK vitamin cocktail is $55 per bottle for a one month supply. 

Where to buy Z-Stack: Z-stack is available on Dr Zelenko's website. Here is the link: Z Stack Supplement 

Note: To get 5% OFF, please use this coupon code: drfrancis

Disclaimer: All information presented is not intended to replace the guidance from your medical doctor. Please discuss with your doctor before you take any supplement or medication related to COVID-19.

Read more: Explore COVID-19 Articles