Ivermectin has formally joined the COVID-19 conversation, in case you missed it.
Although the term may sound familiar to many pet owners, the majority of us probably hadn’t heard of the medication before the outbreak.
Ivermectin was discovered in 1975 and is used to treat parasite diseases in humans, protect dogs from developing heartworms, and deworm horses.
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What connection does ivermectin have to COVID-19, then? Depending on who you ask, that is.
Many people think it might be a cure for the virus that has been interfering with our life for the past year and a half, based on preliminary laboratory studies and a since-retracted preprint publication.
According to a recent study, the average number of prescriptions for ivermectin filled in U.S. pharmacies during the prepandemic period rose from 3,600 to over 88,000 per week by mid-August.
Furthermore, the rise in utilization isn’t limited to prescription ivermectin. The CDC reports that the use of ivermectin in over-the-counter veterinary formulations is also increasing. Naturally, this is concerning because pharmaceuticals for animals aren’t meant for human use.
Experts in public health and science, on the other hand, believe that ivermectin offers little to no protection against COVID-19.
The following five factors indicate that using Covimectin 12 mg to treat or prevent COVID-19 is not recommended:
1. There’s no proof that ivermectin works to combat COVID-19.
Let’s start by analyzing what is known—and what is essentially unknown—about the research that support the medicine.
Ivermectin was found to be effective in eliminating the SARS-CoV-2 virus in a study conducted in test tubes and petri dishes. This phase of the investigation is known as a “in vitro study,” which is scientific jargon for an experiment carried out outside of a typical biological setting. As directly translated from Latin, in vitro means “within the glass.”
In vitro research is a major component in the larger picture of drug discovery and validation. But before a medication that performed well in a test tube can genuinely be regarded as safe and effective in humans, a slew of more processes, ranging from preclinical research to clinical trials, are required.
Regarding the now-withdrawn preprint paper that backed the use of ivermectin in COVID-19 patients, the data was eventually deemed untrustworthy by the scientific peer-review procedure.
So, is there any information available right now to support using ivermectin for COVID-19?
In fact, according to the CDC, “the NIH COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel has not found enough evidence from clinical trials and observational studies to support the use of ivermectin to prevent and treat COVID-19 in humans.”
2. The use of ivermectin for COVID-19 prophylaxis or treatment is not permitted or licensed.
Ivermectin has FDA approval for some applications, however treating and preventing COVID-19 is not one of them.
Additionally, the FDA’s position is unambiguous: ivermectin has not been demonstrated to be safe or effective at treating or preventing COVID-19. This is despite the fact that the agency has a unique program called the Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program (CTAP) that is specifically designed to get new COVID-19 treatments to people as quickly and safely as possible.
The FDA states that “people should never take animal drugs, as the FDA has only evaluated their safety and effectiveness in the particular animal species for which they are labeled.” The government also takes a strong stand against self-medication with ivermectin products meant for animals.
3. Using ivermectin can have harmful side effects.
There are risks involved in accidentally taking drugs.
In fact, an increase in calls to poison control centers about ivermectin overdose and misuse indicates that side effects are also on the rise.
First off, ivermectin side effects at high doses can be rather harmful. Furthermore, even prescribed amounts may have negative interactions with other drugs you may be taking, such as blood thinners used to treat heart disease.
Furthermore, ingesting an ivermectin formulation designed for veterinary use may result in a toxic overdose, particularly if the medicine is meant for large animals. Additionally, inactive substances that have not been shown to be safe for human use may be present in veterinary drugs.
See a doctor right away if you’ve taken ivermectin and are having worrying side effects.
Ivermectin poisoning symptoms and signs include:
gastrointestinal side symptoms, including as diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal discomfort
Headache
hazy vision
lightheadedness
heart rate that is faster than normal (sometimes termed tachycardia)
low BP
4. We already have secure, efficient methods in place to protect against COVID-19.
Ivermectin’s ability to prevent COVID-19 is unproven.
However, there are more strategies to keep both you and others safe, such as:
Receiving a vaccination
Donning a mask
Social distancing
remaining at home when unwell
staying at home when ill
Seeking advice from your primary care physician will reduce any residual anxiety you may have if you haven’t received your vaccination yet and are afraid to get one. In addition to discussing the advantages of vaccination and its mechanism of action, he or she can also address concerns about vaccine fear and help with decision-making.
Additionally, if you were recently exposed to COVID-19, you might be qualified for post-exposure therapy with FDA-approved preventative monoclonal antibodies.
5. We have COVID-19 treatments that are authorized and approved.
Additionally, there is no proof that ivermectin can lessen the severity of COVID-19.
Fortunately, there are a number of FDA-approved and permitted medicines available, such as:
Remdesivir
Treatment with monoclonal antibodies
Plasma treatment for convalescence
Find out if you can undergo monoclonal antibody therapy if you recently tested positive for COVID-19.