BLUF
Thousands of people worldwide are treating themselves with a horse medication in the mistaken belief it will successfully treat, or prevent, COVID-19.Summary
Thanks to the Pandemic, un-proven COVID-19 treatments such as Hydroxychloroquine—and the lesser-known Remdesivir—have become household names. Now, Ivermectin has joined that list. Ivermectin is a livestock de-wormer being touted as the new anti-Covid drug of choice for people who don’t necessarily believe the science-based treatments espoused by health authorities. Humans have successfully used Ivermectin to treat diseases caused by parasitic worms, but there is scant evidence that Ivermectin can treat or prevent Covid-19. Despite that, Ivermectin is becoming sold out in agricultural supply stores across Oklahoma and Las Vegas, with pharmacies in Idaho also reporting shortages. In the US, prescriptions for Ivermectin have jumped from a pre-pandemic 3,600 per week to almost 90,000 a week in August this year. And it’s not just Americans snapping it up; there has been a tenfold increase in Australians importing Ivermectin. Unfortunately, the side effects of Ivermectin can range from diarrhoea to death. In the US, it is such a concern that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has had to tweet: “You are not a horse.”
References
Aug 2021 The Guardian Australian imports of ivermectin increase tenfold, prompting warning from TGA
Sep 2021 FDA Why You Should Not Use Ivermectin to Treat or Prevent COVID-19
Sep 2021 National Geographic The shaky science behind ivermectin as a COVID-19 cure
Sep 2021 BBC Ivermectin: Oklahoma doctor warns against using drug for Covid treatment
