Few drugs can fit the ‘wonder drugs’ title such as aspirin and penicillin which have incredible impacts on the well-being of humans. Ivermectin is also one of those suitable contenders because of its safety and versatility. The advantageous impact of this drug makes Ivermectin a wonder drug.
What is Ivermectin?
Ivermectin medication is available for both animal and human use. The antiparasitic medication Ivermectin is used to treat parasitic diseases, head lice, and skin conditions such as rosacea. Ivermectin is FDA-approved for human use in order to treat infections caused by certain parasites such as parasitic worms, whipworms, and hookworm.
Ivermectin medication is a safe and effective treatment for an extensive range of health medical conditions such as onchocerciasis or river blindness and intestinal strongyloidiasis. The FDA has approved Ivermectin as a prescription medication to treat a variety of infections caused by external and internal parasites.
Ivermectin is prescribed for serious health conditions as well as to treat diseases that are not life-threatening. For example, skin conditions and hair lice are not life-threatening.
Ivermectin available in topical forms is intended to treat external parasites such as head lice and skin conditions. Ivermectin creams or lotions are not recommended for nursing babies. Make sure you consult your healthcare provider before using topical Ivermectin for babies.
Ivermectin tablets and creams for humans are available on prescription only however the lotion can be purchased over the counter. It is available as Sklice.
In animals, Ivermectin is used to prevent heartworm disease and treat various external and internal parasites.
Health conditions Ivermectin can treat humans
FDA has approved Ivermectin tablets to treat health conditions onchocerciasis and intestinal strongyloidiasis caused by parasites and intestinal worms. Parasites are worms that enter the body through the skin. Ivermectin is also available in topical cream form that is used to treat skin conditions involving redness or itching.
Ivermectin lotion is also available to treat head lice. Ivermectin is also recommended off-label to treat internal and external parasites, parasitic worms, hookworm infections, scabies, and some other infections in humans.
Health issues Ivermectin can treat in animals
Various forms of animal Ivermectin products are used to treat animal parasitic infections or parasitic worms such as heartworms. Usually, these types of Ivermectin medication are stronger than those available for humans.
For example, animal Ivermectin Heartgard for dogs contains Ivermectin. Ivermectin for animals also comes as a drench, a liquid chemical that is used to treat parasitic infections in sheep. It comes as an ear suspension to treat ear mites in kittens and cats. An injectable and topical form of Ivermectin is available to treat parasitic infections in cows.
How to use Ivermectin for humans
Usually, the directions and dose of Ivermectin tablets depend on the health condition that needs to be treated. People suffering from strongyloidiasis are prescribed to take Ivermectin for 1 to 2 days. The dose to treat onchocerciasis or river blindness and strongyloidiasis depends on the body weight of the person.
Patients with onchocerciasis or river blindness usually need to take a single dose of Ivermectin every 6 months. It is prescribed like that because of the life span of the parasite which can be up to 15 years. Ivermectin is recommended to take with water on an empty stomach.
If you missed dose of Ivermectin or forgot to take it at the right time, take it as soon as you remember. In case you remember at the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose. Taking two doses at the same time can result in an overdose.
Topical Ivermectin can be applied as suggested by your doctor for rosacea or head lice. Use Ivermectin cream or lotion only on your scalp or skin, do not swallow it or put it in your mouth. To treat head lice, make sure your scalp and hair are dry before you apply the lotion.
Is Ivermectin safe?
Ivermectin is safe and tolerable when used properly as prescribed by a healthcare professional. Taking Ivermectin incorrectly, or using Ivermectin for large animals in humans can cause adverse effects and be extremely dangerous.
If your doctor prescribes you Ivermectin purchase the medication through a legitimate online pharmacy or local pharmacy and take it exactly as recommended. Taking Ivermectin in higher doses is toxic.
Ivermectin is the generic name of the drug. It belongs to the drug class Anthelmintics and the brand name of the drug is Stromectol. Ivermectin also possesses antiviral properties that are shown beneficial against an extensive range of DNA and RNA viruses including yellow fever, dengue, Zika, etc.
A stool examination is required after using Ivermectin, to make sure the infection is cured. Usually, one dose is prescribed by the doctor however some patients may require another Ivermectin dose to treat the infection completely.
Never take the animal Ivermectin medication. A veterinary drug intended for animals is different from Ivermectin products intended for humans.
Ivermectin tablets may not be safe in certain conditions
Some misinformation is encouraging people to take Ivermectin in large doses and take Ivermectin tablets to treat covid 19. It is not approved and it’s actually not ok. It could be dangerous and may cause serious side effects.
Ivermectin for humans can interact with some other medications such as blood thinners. Taking Ivermectin tablets with blood thinners can cause adverse effects.
Taking Ivermectin in large doses or Ivermectin misuse can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, allergic reactions such as itching and hives, hypotension, and seizures.
Animal Ivermectin medication is different from human Ivermectin
Animal Ivermectin products and animal drugs are highly concentrated as these are intended for large animals such as cows and horses. These large animals weigh much more than humans. These high doses can be extremely toxic in humans.
Additionally, FDA analyses drugs for the usefulness and safety of active ingredients as well as inactive ingredients. Many inactive ingredients present in veterinary products are not assessed for human use.
These ingredients are present in much higher quantities in veterinary products than those meant for human use. In some cases, you never know how these inactive ingredients will impact the way Ivermectin is absorbed in the human body.
Precautions to avoid allergic reactions or possible adverse events
If you are allergic to Ivermectin, you should not use it. To be assured about the safety of Ivermectin tablets, make sure your doctor knows about your liver or kidney disease, cancer, AIDS, or other health issues that can make your immune system weaker.
You may feel dizzy while taking Ivermectin. You should be careful while using stairs to reduce the chances of feeling dizzy. Get up slowly if you are lying down or sitting.
It is still unknown whether Ivermectin products will harm the baby inside the womb or not. Let your doctor know if you are planning pregnancy, or pregnant while using the drug. Ivermectin may pass into the breast milk so make sure your doctor is aware if you are breast feeding your baby.
Clinical trials to assess Ivermectin use for Covid 19
The FDA has not approved Ivermectin to treat or prevent covid 19 neither in humans nor in animals. Research and clinical trials are going on to determine the safety and effectiveness of Ivermectin in treating or preventing covid 19.
Presently, there is no data or insufficient evidence to prove that Ivermectin is effective against covid 19. Many research institutions across the world are performing clinical trials to evaluate Ivermectin tablets against covid 19.
Currently, Ivermectin is being examined in clinical trials as a possible treatment for coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The World Health Organization and Food and Drug Administration does not recommend using Ivermectin for Covid 19 patients to diminish viral replication except in clinical trials.
Experimental studies performed for Ivermectin as a treatment for antiviral effects of hospitalized covid 19 patients (adults), a randomized multi-center clinical trial yielded insufficient evidence.
Presently there are insufficient data and evidence from Covid-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel to recommend Ivermectin to treat covid 19 patients with mild to severe symptoms.
During the peak of the pandemic, Ivermectin dispensed by pharmacies (retail) has multiplied, as the veterinary formulations of Ivermectin are available over the counter. These are not for human use. FDA and medical management advice people about the possible risks of using Ivermectin against Covid 19.
Reasons why you should not take Ivermectin to treat or prevent covid 19
There is no sufficient evidence to prove that Ivermectin is effective against covid 19. Currently, the data that exists is unreliable and does not support using Ivermectin tablets for covid 19. The CDC declared that observational studies and clinical trials performed to determine the use of Ivermectin against covid 19 in humans have insufficient evidence.
Ivermectin is not approved for covid 10 treatment or prevention. FDA has approved Ivermectin for curing certain diseases but Covid 19 is not on the list. The major health organizations of the world made it very clear that Ivermectin is not proven to be effective or safe for treating or preventing covid 19.
Taking Ivermectin unintendedly or without a prescription can cause serious side effects. No doubt taking a medication unintendedly does not come without possible risks and adverse effects. Ivermectin overdose and Ivermectin misuse-associated adverse effects are increasingly reported by poison control centers during the peak phase of covid19.
Poison control centers reported a rise in calls about these issues. Taking large doses of Ivermectin or taking the recommended dosages with certain other medications can result in serious side effects.
In case you experience concerning effects, immediately seek medical treatment or call the poison control center hotline. Poison control centers are readily available to help you with drug overdose or adverse effects.
Indications for Ivermectin toxicity include headache, dizziness, blurred vision, gastrointestinal effects, abdominal pain, faster heart rate, low blood pressure, hallucination, loss of balance and coordination, altered mental status, central nervous system depression, and seizures.
There are effective ways to protect yourself against covid 19. There is so enough evidence that Ivermectin tablets can prevent or treat covid 19 but there are other safe ways to stay safe including getting vaccinated, wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing, and staying home if you are not well.
There are approved and authorized treatments for coronavirus disease. Due to the lack of evidence, it is not clear that Ivermectin tablets can help reduce the seriousness of covid 19. However, there are several FDA-approved treatments available to deal with coronavirus diseases such as Remdesivir.
The closing words
Ivermectin is an antiparasitic medication used to treat infections caused by certain internal and external parasites across the globe. Ivermectin is a safe and beneficial medication when used as prescribed and recommended by healthcare professionals.
There are some off-label uses of Ivermectin but presently it should not be used for Covid 19 patients unless you are registered for clinical trials. Make sure you take Ivermectin-approved dosage only as recommended by your doctor.
Do not increase or decrease the dose without consulting your doctor. Animal drugs or Ivermectin for animals are not meant for human consumption, it could be highly toxic or fatal.
