Greek-American Rita Wilson had “extreme side effects” from chloroquine, a drug trialed for coronavirus

In her first interview following her recovery, Rita Wilson spoke about her experience while treated with experimental COVID-19 drug chloroquine.

Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks

Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks Source: Rob Kim/Getty Images for 2017 Tribeca Film Festival

The Greek- American actress was given the drug at the Gold Coast University hospital in Queensland where she was hospitalised last month.

Chloroquine is commonly administered to treat malaria among other uses, and has been on the spotlight lately, touted as a potential treatment for the novel coronavirus, with US President Donald Trump regularly referring to it during press conferences.

However, experts are still sceptical about its efficacy on COVID-19, while warnings have been given regarding potential side-effects, which can be quite severe.

Speaking to the American TV channel CBS, Wilson said she received chloroquine after developing a fever of 38.9C.

 “I know people have been talking about this drug. But I can only tell you that – I don’t know if the drug worked or if it was just time for the fever to break.

“My fever did break but the chloroquine had such extreme side effects, I was completely nauseous, I had vertigo and my muscles felt very weak … I think people have to be very considerate about that drug,” she said.

Wilson was touring Australia with ‘honorary Greek’ Tom Hanks, who was working on a film about Elvis Presley, when they tested positive for COVID-19.

They have since recovered fully and returned to the US at the end of last month.


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Published 16 April 2020 3:34pm
Updated 16 April 2020 3:42pm
By Zoe Thomaidou


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