The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health advisory stating there’s insufficient data to recommend the antiparasitic drug ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19, and noting the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not recommended ivermectin for that purpose.
CDC noted an increase in dispensing of the drug by retail pharmacies, as well as a spike in use of the over-the-counter veterinary formulation of ivermectin, which the agency warned “can be highly concentrated and result in overdoses when used by humans.”
Outpatient ivermectin dispensing has rapidly increased since the pandemic began, officials said, with more than 88,000 prescriptions issued in the week ending Aug. 13, “a 24-fold increase from the pre-pandemic baseline.” Calls to poison control centers for cases of human exposure to ivermectin also have increased sharply.
“Veterinary formulations intended for use in large animals such as horses, sheep, and cattle … can be highly concentrated and result in overdoses when used by humans,” CDC said. “Animal products may also contain inactive ingredients that have not been evaluated for use in humans. People who take inappropriately high doses of ivermectin above FDA-recommended dosing may experience toxic effects.”
For clinicians and public health practitioners, CDC recommendations include:
- Educating patients about the risks of using ivermectin without a prescription, or ingesting ivermectin formulations meant for external use or ivermectin-containing products formulated for veterinary use;
- Educating patients and the public to get vaccinated against COVID-19; and
- Educating patients and the public to use COVID-19 prevention measures, including public masking, physical distancing, avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, and frequent handwashing and use of hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
More information is available through the CDC health alert, including a link to FDA’s consumer alert titled “Why You Should Not Use Ivermectin to Treat or Prevent COVID-19.”
Last Updated On
August 27, 2021
Originally Published On
August 27, 2021