Ivermectin For Prophylaxis Or Treatment Of Covid-19?

The quick answer for both prophylaxis and treatment is: NO, there is insufficient evidence to support its use for this purpose to date.

Ivermectin is an anthelmintic drug licensed for humans to treat

• Onchocerciasis and Strongyloidiasis in the oral form

• Head pediculosis and skin rosacea in topical form

In the search for novel agents against the raging Covid-19 across the globe which shows no sign of easing with the emerging of the more transmissible delta variant, Ivermectin has been used in many clinical trials in treating or preventing Covid-19.

To date, no health authority in the world has given the green light to use Ivermectin for Covid-19 prophylaxis or treatment. However, the trend of the uninformed public flocking the online or physical stores searching for Ivermectin stock to obtain a “miracle cure” or as an easy answer to their vaccine hesitancy (delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability of vaccine services) is indeed worrying. Hence, it is the responsibility of the healthcare professionals to prevent the public from making an uninformed decision that may cause more harm to their health by self-treating with an unlicensed product, indication or dose. Some adverse effects when overdosing on ivermectin include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, hypotension allergic reactions, dizziness, ataxia, seizures, coma and even death. (1)

Here, I would like to share the finding from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews regarding the safety and efficacy of Ivermectin used in treating and preventing Covid-19. Cochrane Reviews are internationally recognized as the highest standard in evidence-based healthcare and hence should be used as a trustable source of information in decision making when conflicting evidence is appearing here and there.

Published on 28th July 2021, the systemic review titled “Ivermectin for preventing and treating COVID‐19” concluded that there is:

1. No evidence of Ivermectin reduces or increases the mortality rate of Covid-19 treated in-patients

2. No evidence of Ivermectin improves or worsens the conditions of inpatients

3. No evidence of Ivermectin reduces the length of hospitalisation among inpatients

4. No evidence of Ivermectin reduces or increases the mortality rate of Covid-19 treated out-patients

5. No evidence of Ivermectin improves or worsens the conditions of outpatients

6. No evidence of Ivermectin effective in preventing Covid-19 infection. (2)

In conclusion, until the emerging of more convincing evidence of Ivermectin used in treatment or prevention of Covid-19 and approval from the regulatory authority is obtained, the public should be advised against the purchase of this medicine for self-treatment or prevention of Covid-19.

References

1. Why you should not use ivermectin to treat or prevent covid-19. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/why-you-should-not-use-ivermectin-treat-or-prevent-covid-19. Accessed August 4, 2021.

2. Popp M, Stegemann M, Metzendorf M-I, Gould S, Kranke P, Meybohm P, Skoetz N, Weibel S. Ivermectin for preventing and treating COVID‐19. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2021, Issue 7. Art. No.: CD015017. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD015017.pub2. Accessed 04 August 2021.