In this rapid review of the McCullough Protocol© we finish with the full protocol itself and have some focused comments on the use of nutraceuticals and prescription drugs specifically for the current Omicron after wave. The Wild-type through Delta waves of SARS-CoV-2 represented more severe and longer courses of illness among proportionally more initial COVID-19 infections or index cases.
The current Omicron infection is characteristically mild with limited pulmonary and systemic involvement. For those who are having second and third infections it will be even more mild often indistinguishable from the common cold. All of the agents mentioned in this stack have reasonable supportive evidence. The therapeutic aims are to address viral replication, inflammation, and thrombosis. Patients at negligible and low risk can self-manage with viricidal nasal washes and the “OTC Bundle” which includes zinc, vitamin D, vitamin C, quercetin, famotidine (at four times the package dose—80 mg a day), and it’s reasonable to include aspirin 325 mg a day.
[i] For very high-risk elderly patients with significant medical problems, for example, oxygen-dependent cardio-pulmonary disease monoclonal antibodies can be given as a one-time infusion preferably on days 1-3. In some regions of the U.S., bebtelovimab is available in emergency rooms and urgent care centers. If monoclonals are given, then oral antivirals can be omitted from the regimen. For those at moderate and above risk, it is reasonable to choose one oral antiviral (hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, Paxlovid, molnupiravir) and consider combining it with an intracellular antibiotic (e.g., doxycycline or azithromycin) to cover concomitant atypical organisms and superimposed bacterial bronchitis. For fever control and inflammation, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (e.g., naproxen) are favored over acetaminophen.[ii]
In the Omicron wave, corticosteroids can be streamlined to inhaled budesonide and or oral prednisone. Beyond these principles the remainder of the McCullough Protocol© can be stylized to the patient and their particular history and symptoms with the goal of ameliorating the intensity and duration of symptoms and by that mechanism, reducing the risk of hospitalization or death. For example, patients with pleuropericardial symptoms or prior chest surgery, colchicine can be added and is well-supported by the largest outpatient placebo-controlled trial.[iii] If bedbound, immobile, or tendency for blood clotting, then anticoagulation with low-molecular weight heparin by injection or oral anticoagulants is prudent.
The community standard of care for COVID-19 was developed by doctors in the field who learned how to treat the infection using their clinical judgement and available sources of evidence—not by government agencies, state medical boards, or royal colleges of physicians. Having nearly three years of experience in ambulatory management, Dr. McCullough has learned from experts around the globe that no single drug is necessary nor sufficient to treat COVID-19. Yes, that means that the syndrome can be treated without antiviral agents as reported by Dr. Barrientos in El Salvador and Dr. Chetty in South Africa.[iv][v]
Each protocol varies the intensity and classes of drugs based on style and phase of illness. As a general rule, day 1-3 is the golden window for initiation of early treatment, 4-6 agents are required, and the duration of therapy can be as short as 5 and as long as 30 days depending on the circumstances.[vi]
Nutraceuticals and Prescription Drugs