Ivermectin and COVID-19

What is Ivermectin?

Ivermectin is an award-winning pharmaceutical drug created during the 1970s to treat parasites in both people and animals. It is widely available due to its inclusion on the WHO model list of essential medicines.

The microbiologist Satoshi Omura and parasitologist William Campbell first discovered Ivermectin, and now – 50 years later – it is at the forefront of the search for an effective drug against SARS-CoV-19, the virus that causes the COVID-19.

Initially used only to support animal health by killing a wide range of parasites, it was soon found that Ivermectin could help combat some of the world’s most devastating human parasites such as hookworm and river blindness.

Next, it was found effective for treating viruses, too. It has been used to treat a wide range of RNA and DNA viruses including Zika (remember Zika?!), yellow fever, bird flu Type A (Avian influenza A), and many others. 

Why would you take Ivermectin for COVID?

Ivermectin has been shown to prevent the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in test tube experiments. A single treatment was able to effect a ~5000-fold reduction in the virus after 48 hours in a test tube.

When the effect of Ivermectin on SARS-CoV-2 patients was explored, the data suggested that Ivermectin may be effective against COVID-19 but small sample sizes and missing data has been blamed for the hazy conclusions. The results can be seen here. Most of the study participants reported no adverse effects, but considering the high efficacy in vitro, you have to wonder why more studies aren’t being published on the benefits of Ivermectin in vivo… 

Growing Support For Ivermectin’s Use With COVID-19

Despite not having been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, Ivermectin is now being used in many countries to fight the pandemic. It has been approved in the Americas (such as in Honduras, Bolivia and Peru), as well as for use in various Indian states. 

And now, the first country in the EU has officially approved Ivermectin to both treat and prevent COVID! 

Ivermectin’s Strong Safety Profile

Ivermectin is known to be well tolerated in most people.

Ivermectin’s toxic effects even at high doses of 150-200 micrograms per kilo of body weight are stated to be short term and usually resolved. The side effects at elevated doses can include rash, headache, nausea, dizziness and transient tachycardia (fast heart beat). This is why it is very important to work with a licensed healthcare professional and to be prescribed this drug in all cases.

Does Ivermectin help prevent Covid?

A recent meta-analysis of studies performed to test the effectiveness of Ivermectin as a preventative option for COVID-19 reported impressive results: a 85% reduction in the risk of acquiring the disease in a sample of 8,789 patients. A later review and analysis found three studies (736 subjects) that indicated that prevention with Ivermectin increased the likelihood of preventing COVID-19 compared to controls. Serious adverse events were rarely reported.

Ivermectin dosage for Covid

As mentioned above, it’s important to always work with a doctor or other licensed health professional in order to access pharmaceutical drugs. They will be able to prescribe the correct dose of Ivermectin based on your situation if they believe it would be a good option for you.

How does Ivermectin compare to fluvoxamine?

Fluvoxamine is another drug that is being investigated for its potential use in the fight against COVID-19. A combination of Ivermectin, fluvoxamine and other combinations is also soon to be investigated. But progress has been slow and some larger studies have shown them not to be helpful in any significant way. This is surprising when the efforts to roll out vaccines has been considerable.

Can Ivermectin be taken with hydroxychloroquine?

Hydroxychloroquine is a drug that modifies the immune system and has been used for over 60 years to treat malaria, lupus and inflammatory arthritis.

Trials on hydroxychloroquine have been closed down early because not enough people could be recruited to participate in them. There have also been worries around increased mortality in COVID-19 patients. 

Regardless of whether these conclusions are correct, Ivermectin has the benefit of having a lot of evidence behind it as a safe drug in addition to its long history. Hydroxychloroquine dosage has recently been changed due to concerns over toxicity and potential damage to the eyes and related tissues and the cardiovascular system.

Final thoughts

At this moment, Ivermectin is being used free-of-charge as the only tool in campaigns to eliminate diseases globally and new uses for it are being found all the time.

There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that Ivermectin is a low-cost, effective, and safe potential option for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

Right now, it appears to be a very useful option and it is being approved by countries across the globe.