I didn't know...

I didn't know the president could override the FDA and release prescription drugs to be sold over the counter. So, I thought about it for a while.

Not long ago, the president touted some drugs used to treat malaria and blood related disease as effective in combating COVID-19. Despite the FDA warnings of those prescription medicine(s).
He stated "What do you have to lose?"

The first result was a frenzy of people getting prescriptions for these drugs.

chatillion... tell them what happened next.
Okay, it created a shortage for the people who were using those drugs all along as originally intended. People who didn't have the virus were taking it... including the group who claimed the virus was a hoax.

He's again pumping the idea of use of these drugs for the masses.

Are you shitting me?
Not at all... it's true.

Did these drugs actually work in preventing COVID-19?
Some tests were done in a hospital environment, most had varied results. Some patients developed serious side effects. To my knowledge, it was deemed ineffective by the FDA. Yet some say it's harmless and truly effective. It depends on who you ask. Much of the information comes from the internet and you will get 'factual' data that is 180 degrees of each other.

What are your thoughts about this now?
Let's take the bullshit and politics out of the equation.
I've always been skeptical of wild claims. Call them Miracle cures or great marketing, they are often designed to put money in someones pocket.

I remember the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx was taken off the market because someone who misused this medicine died. It was a great drug but who would have known... right?

Releasing a prescription drug as over the counter has some serious considerations:
Side effects and liability to the manufacturer.
Dosage must be determined. Is 100mg enough or 300mg too much? 2 times a day, 3 times?
Rounds of clinical trials must be performed as a drug for one disease has to be retested for another. All that has to be decided.
Licensing, distribution, packaging and availability must be considered.
Who owns the rights and who can make these drugs must be thought out long before releasing a program on a national basis.