The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other health agencies have advised against the unauthorized use of the drug ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19 in humans. The Alabama Department …
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other health agencies have advised against the unauthorized use of the drug ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19 in humans. The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) has sent a health alert message to healthcare providers in the state requesting reporting and cautioning them about the many side effects and serious harm caused when people take this medication for unapproved use.
Ivermectin is not an anti-viral drug and is approved for humans only at specific doses for specific conditions. An FDA consumer alert explained that ivermectin is often used in the U.S. to treat or prevent parasites in animals. The agency has received multiple reports of patients who have required medical support and have been hospitalized after taking high doses of ivermectin which can be highly toxic in humans. Side effects occur, and drug interactions are common.
Two forms of ivermectin are available for human use, tablets to treat parasitic worms and a topical to treat head lice and skin conditions such as rosacea. The FDA has advised against human use of ivermectin produced for animals such as cows and horses as the doses are much higher and could contain ingredients intended only for animals and are thus harmful to humans. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/why-you-should-not-use-ivermectin-treat-or-prevent-covid-19