The 57-year-old physician used the protocol of hydroxychloroquine, antibiotics, aspirin, and vitamins that he and over 20 of his colleagues have published for the early treatment of COVID-19.
After eight days, he felt well enough to go for a jog.
“It’s a rough illness and I can see why older adults are worried,” McCullough recounted his experience to The Texan. “I am strongly encouraging early home treatment for anyone over 50 of who has underlying health conditions.”
For patients who are over 50 and/or have health risks such as underlying lung, heart, or kidney disease, diabetes, cancer, or obesity, McCullough urges treatment at the onset of symptoms of coronavirus to get ahead of the virus and prevent hospitalization.
As one example, McCullough successfully treated his elderly father, a nursing home resident, when he contracted coronavirus earlier this year. His father did not require hospitalization.
“The vaccination will be too late to save so many Americans,” McCullough emphasized.
McCullough, who is widely published and works with two well-known Texas medical institutions, first issued his suggested protocol in the American Journal of Medicine in August.
Recently, he updated his advice and released a video explaining the guidance.
The vitamin and supplement protocol includes three items: zinc sulfate, Vitamin D3, and Vitamin C. McCullough said he doesn’t have any evidence to believe these help prevent contracting the illness, but he believes they should be included in the early treatment protocol as supportive therapies.
Because the virus replicates rapidly, McCullough recommends using a course of 200 milligrams (mg) of hydroxychloroquine twice a day for at least five days. Of all the therapies he used, McCullough believed this helped him the most during his illness.
“Hydroxychloroquine far and away made the biggest difference,” McCullough commented. “It is not a cure alone, but it makes a giant difference.”
If a patient has known heart issues that put them at risk when taking hydroxychloroquine, McCullough offers ivermectin as an alternative.
He also believes the United States needs to immediately investigate the efficacy of favipiravir, which he says is being used successfully as a treatment in 30 countries around the world.
Along with hydroxychloroquine, McCullough’s protocol suggests a course of antibiotics, such as doxycycline or azithromycin, to help reduce the chance of secondary infections.
The risk of blood clotting is one of the most frightening aspects of the disease, McCullough acknowledged, and thus he has updated his earlier advice to increase the recommended dosage of aspirin to 325 mg daily.
For those who contract COVID-19 and are in the “at-risk” category, McCullough recommends “A Guide to Home-Based COVID Treatment” published by the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS).
If the patient’s physician is unsure about or unwilling to use the treatment protocol, the AAPS guide has suggested telemedicine options for receiving treatment.
McCullough believes that the treatment program he recommends is reasonable for the whole country.
“In a pandemic, we have to make a decision based on a reasonable chance of success,” he remarked. “We need major medical centers and medical boards to get on board [with early treatment].”
“I never thought I’d see the day where doctors are censored, and patients are kept from care,” McCullough grieved.
Because the virus continues to spread despite control measures, McCullough believes hospitals could soon be overrun unnecessarily. The National Institutes of Health COVID-19 treatment plan makes no recommendations for treatment until a patient is hospitalized and in need of oxygen, McCullough pointed out.
However, he sees this as a recipe for disaster as hospitals are not equipped to be the first line of treatment.
Since posting his first videos in October, McCullough says they have had thousands of views, and he has given multiple interviews with medical reporters. He also participated in an international symposium earlier this week.
Dr. McCullough qualified that these views expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions he’s associated with.
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Kim Roberts
Kim Roberts is a regional reporter for the Texan in the DFW metroplex area where she has lived for over twenty years. She has a Juris Doctor from Baylor University Law School and a Bachelor's in government from Angelo State University. In her free time, Kim home schools her daughter and coaches high school extemporaneous speaking and apologetics. She has been happily married to her husband for 23 years, has three wonderful children, and two dogs.
