had died after taking chloroquine phosphate. He had purchased the chloroquine for use in his home aquarium (as a treatment for parasite diseases in ornamental fish).
The endorsement by Trump, and the resultant publicity over the accidental death, drew attention to these drugs and led to a global surge in demand for pharmaceutical chloroquine. Chloroquine phosphate (marketed as Avlochlor 250mg tablets) had been readily-available for many years in many countries over-the- counter. Chloroquine phosphate remains a useful end of life method (See the Chapter on ‘Chloroquine’ in this eHandbook). The run-on-the-market and the reported ‘danger’ of chloroquine also quickly led to its restriction in many countries. It remains difficult to source pharmaceutical chloroquine: although the ‘off-licence’ form of chloroquine phosphate is still available as a fish tank additive on eBay.
Pre-COVID, the Exit RPA rating for chloroquine (as an end of life option) was 76% which is a little lower than sodium nitrite. Chloroquine availability was then rated at 10/10. The availability rating post-COVID has now dropped to an estimate of ~ 4/10. This gives chloroquine a new rating of a low 60%.
Barbiturates The implementation of severe, international travel restrictions and the closure of many international borders has meant that travel to purchase over-the-counter veterinary Nembutal is no longer an option. Whereas pre-COVID, Nembutal could be reliably sourced in a number of South American countries. While the drug may still be available, it is the inability to travel freely that severely limits this as an option.