What’s the deal with Ivermectin?

Reality Team Warning: It is NEVER SAFE to self-medicate, take any drugs not prescribed by a doctor, or take medication not designed for human use!

While Ivermectin has shown some promise as an effective treatment for viruses in the lab, we need much more research and clinical trials to determine if it can help treat COVID-19.

Q: What is Ivermectin?

Ivermectin is a drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of internal parasites or as a cream to treat lice and rosacea. Other forms of Ivermectin are designed to treat parasites and heartworm in large animals like horses and cows.

Q: Does it help treat COVID-19?

At this point there is no solid evidence whether it works or not. Scientists are studying Ivermectin to see if it might be a good antiviral treatment.

Studies that have been done in other countries so far have not done enough follow up with patients to understand the effect.

Because it is not fully tested for antiviral treatment the FDA has not approved it for that use.

Hopefully with more testing we can have a definitive yes or no on Ivermectin.

Q: So is it safe to take Ivermectin?

Ivermectin designed for humans is safe to take under doctor’s supervision. A responsible doctor will ensure you have the right dose, and that you don’t have other medical conditions that would make it unsafe. It is VERY DANGEROUS to self-medicate and take drugs without a doctor’s prescription. Also it is NEVER SAFE TO TAKE IVERMECTIN FOR ANIMALS.

Q: Isn’t Ivermectin for humans and animals the same thing?

No! It is only ever safe to take drugs that have been designated for human use and prescribed by your doctor.

There are several different types of Ivermectin, some are designed to be ingested, some are just used on the skin, and some are given to animals. They are each formulated with the right amount of the drug for its intended use. They also have different additives. The Ivermectin that is used for animals has a much larger dose of the drug than is safe for humans to ingest. That is why people who have taken Ivermectin for animals have had bad side effects like diarrhea and nausea. Animal Ivermectin also may have additives that are safe for animal consumption but not for humans. YOU SHOULD NEVER TAKE A DRUG THAT IS MARKED FOR ANIMAL CONSUMPTION.

Q: But I’ve seen studies that show Ivermectin is a good treatment for COVID-19! Are they wrong?

We don’t know yet.

Reputable scientific journals require papers to be reviewed by other scientists before they are published. This is called a peer review and helps make sure that scientists have not overlooked any big problems with their data. Most of the studies you can find on the use of Ivermectin to treat COVID-19 have not been peer-reviewed. They are in a stage known as preprint. Preprinted studies and scientific articles have not been peer-reviewed yet. Scientists will often preprint their findings before official publication in an effort to speed the science along or share information with other researchers who are also working on similar things. In the case of a global pandemic like we are in now, scientists will often preprint their work in an attempt to come up with treatment protocols faster. The data is later reviewed by other scientists and either substantiated or thrown out.

Q: Don’t doctors frequently prescribe drugs for uses that are not approved by the FDA?

Yes. This is called an “off-label” use.

Sometimes scientists discover that an FDA approved drug can treat something it wasn’t originally intended for. Doctors can prescribe it for that new purpose. However, most doctors are careful with this until there is a lot of evidence that it is safe and effective. The FDA requires a high level of proof of safety and efficacy before approving a drug for a new use.