Dr Peter McCullough Protocol: Hydroxychloroquine and Home Treatment for COVID-19 (2023)

By Dr Frank Yap, MD - September 03, 2023

Well-respected North Texas cardiologist, Dr. Peter McCullough has impeccable academic credentials. He's an internist, cardiologist, epidemiologist, a full professor of medicine at Texas A&M College of Medicine in Dallas. He also has a master's degree in public health and is known for being one of the top five most-published medical researchers in the United States and is the editor of two medical journals.

According to Dr Peter McCullough (in a Twitter post - July 2023):

Base Spike Detox is what I am currently using in my practice for those who have had COVID-19 multiple times, one or more of the COVID-19 vaccines, or both and believe persistent SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein could be causing problems in their body. A major publication is under review and editing; however, the information is far too important to hold back.

Update: Published on August 25, 2023 in Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons

I have arrived, based on the emerging scientific literature and my clinical observation, that three OTC products are essential as a triple base combination:

Nattokinase 2000 FU (100 mg) twice a day
Bromelain 500 mg once a day
Nano/Liposomal Curcumin 500 mg twice a day

Additional products can be added, including NAC, IVM, HCQ, fluvoxamine, low-dose naltrexone, and blood thinners, depending on the clinical evaluation and the syndrome. The therapeutic objective is to start treatment and allow the body to clear Spike and its fragments with the natural reticuloendothelial system. I believe this triple combination is the best approach.

Patients can get a big head start if they self-initiate Base Spike Detox as they get organized for appointments. I have found three months is a minimum duration, and some require more than a year. Don’t expect instant results, be patient. I have a major manuscript under review for publication that summarizes the clinical rationale and evidence supporting Base Spike Detox.

Important safety warnings include bleeding for those on blood thinners or who have bleeding disorders (e.g., hemophilia), soy allergy, allergies to any component of the combination, and gastrointestinal intolerance. Women of childbearing potential without contraception, pregnant, breastfeeding, and children should not take this combination unless directed by a doctor.

Early Treatment Guidelines Have Saved Millions of Lives

In December 2020, McCullough published an updated protocol, co-written with 56 other authors who also had extensive experience with treating COVID-19 outpatients. The article, "Multifaceted Highly Targeted Sequential Multidrug Treatment of Early Ambulatory High-Risk SARS-CoV-2 Infection," was published in the journal Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine, of which McCullough is the editor-in-chief.

Dr McCullough has also updated his protocol to incorporate ivermectin as an option for early treatment protocol as published in the journal above.

"That paper, today … is the most frequently downloaded paper from BET Journal," McCullough says. "It also is the basis for the American Association of Physician and Surgeons COVID early treatment guide. (Download Guide - Feb 2, 2022 version)

We have evidence that the treatment guide has been downloaded and utilized millions of times. And it was part of the early huge kick that we had in ambulatory treatment at home towards the end of December into January, which basically crushed the U.S. curve.

We were on schedule to have 1.7 to 2.1 million fatalities in the United States, as estimated by the CDC and others. We cut it off at about 600,000. That still is a tragedy. I've testified that 85% of that 600,000 could have been saved if we would have had … the protocols in place from the start.

But suffice it to say, the early treatment heroes, and you're part of that team Dr. Mercola, has really made the biggest impact. We have saved millions of lives, spared millions and millions of hospitalizations, and in a sense, have brought the pandemic now to a winnowing close."

While the World Health Organization and national health agencies have all rejected treatments suggested by doctors for lack of large-scale randomized controlled studies, McCullough and other doctors working the frontlines took an empiric approach. They looked for signals of benefit in the literature.

"We didn't demand large randomized trials because we knew they weren't going to be available for years in the future," McCullough says. "We didn't wait for a guidelines body to tell us what to do or some medical society, because we know they work in slow motion. We knew we had to take care of patients now."

Dr. McCullough qualified that these views expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions he’s associated with.

Hydroxychloroquine and COVID-19

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.

As of August 2023, there are more than 350 published evidence of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 (c19hcq.org).

Do you need a prescription for hydroxychloroquine?

Yes, hydroxychloroquine is a prescription drug and you do need it to be prescribed to you by a doctor.

Related: Find a Doctor who will prescribe Hydroxychloroquine

McCullough Early Treatment Protocol (Summary)

McCullough Protocol 2022

Note and Update: Omicron variant XBB found to be resistant to monoclonal antibody treatments (New England Journal of Medicine. Dec 2022)

McCullough Protocol for Low Risk Patients (Healthy) - Dr Peter McCullough Protocol Vitamins

Vitamin D3 5000 iu 1 time a day for 5 - 30 days (Amazon)
Zinc Sulfate 220mg 1 time a day for 5 - 30 days (Amazon)
Quercetin 500 mg 2 times a day for 5 - 30 days (Amazon)
Vitamin C 3000 mg 1 time a day for 5 - 30 days (Amazon)

McCullough Protocol for Age 50 years and higher or with Single Co-morbidity

Anti-Infective Agents (immediately)

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) 200mg 2 times a day for 5-30 days (Find a Doctor).
Azithromycin (Zithromax) 250 mg 2 times a day for 5-30 days (Find a Doctor).

Ivermectin: 6 - 24 mg (take with or after meals) — one dose daily, take for 1 - 5 days. (Find a Doctor). Use upper dose range if: 1) in regions with more aggressive variants; 2) treatment started on or after day 5 of symptoms or in pulmonary phase; or 3) multiple comorbidities/risk factors. (Ref)
Azithromycin (Zithromax) 250 mg 2 times a day for 5-30 days (Find a Doctor).

Single Comorbidity: More than 30 kg/m2, lung disease, diabetes mellitus, cardio-vascular disease, chronic kidney disease, cancer

If respiratory symptoms develop or Day 5 of Illness

Dexamethasone 6 mg 1 time a day for 7 days OR Prednisone 1 mg/kg once a day for 5 days, taper as needed (not suitable during viral phase)
Budesonide 1mg/2cc solution via nebulizer twice a day for 7 days (not suitable during viral phase)

Suspect micro blood clots

Aspirin 325 mg once a day (5 - 30 days)

The above protocol for 50 years and above, and with single comorbidity are recommended in combination with the nutraceuticals as recommended for healthy patients i.e. vitamin D3, quercetin, zinc and vitamin C.

Editor's Notes:

Inorganic zinc such as zinc sulfate, is not as effective or useable by your body as chelated zinc sources. Zinc lozenges are preferred so that the tissues of the nose and throat are rich in zinc as soon as they encounter the virus.
COVID-19 is a highly dynamic topic. Please refer to the latest FLCCC I-MASK+ protocol.

Update (July 2023): Systematic Review of Autopsy Findings in Deaths after COVID-19 Vaccination

Other Early Treatment Protocols

It's important to note that the scientific community relies on evidence-based research to inform medical recommendations and guidelines. If you come across information about a treatment or approach that is not widely accepted or that lacks strong scientific evidence, it's a good idea to do your own research and consult with a healthcare professional before making any decisions.

Other early treatment protocols with demonstrated effectiveness include:

The Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance's (FLCCC's) prevention and early at-home treatment protocol. They also have a long-term management guidance for long-haul COVID-19 syndrome and post-vaccine syndrome protocol. You can find a listing of doctors who can prescribe ivermectin here.
Zelenko Protocol
Dr George Fareed and Dr Brian Tyson Early Treatment Protocol
America's Frontline Doctors

Treatment protocol for Vaccine induced myocarditis/pericarditis

ACE inhibitor/ARB, together with carvedilol as tolerated to prevent/limit progressive decline in cardiac function. •
Colchicine in patients with pericarditis – 0.6 mg/day orally; increase to 0.6 mg twice daily if required. Reduce dose if patients develop diarrhea. Monitor white blood cell count. Decrease dose with renal impairment. •
Magnesium to reduce the risk of serious arrhythmias (see dosing above). •
Coenzyme Q (CoQ) 200-400mg/day. (R, R, R)
Omega-3 fatty acids – EPA/DHA 2-4 g/day (R). Increase dose slowly as tolerated. •
Resveratrol/flavanoid combination for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. •
Referral to a cardiologist or ER in case of persistent chest pain or other signs and symptoms of cardiac events are observed.

COVID-19 myocarditis vs Vaccine induced myocarditis

Is the risk of myocarditis higher with COVID-19 vs the vaccine? Some experts argue that myocarditis may be more common in post-COVID unvaccinated patients.

Almamlouk et al performed a systematic review of 50 autopsy studies and 548 hearts of patients who died of or with COVID-19. Usual post-mortem findings of tissue edema and necrosis were reported commonly. About two thirds of hearts had SARS-CoV-2 found in the tissue. However, none of the hearts had extensive myocarditis as the cause of death.

A Retrospective large cohort study of 196,992 adults after COVID-19 infection in Israel between March 2020 and January 2021 concluded that "We did not observe an increased incidence of neither pericarditis nor myocarditis in adult patients recovering from COVID-19 infection." (J Clin Med 2022)