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Thousands of USA citizens could also be taking potentially dangerous doses of an anti-parasitic drug due to misinformation that it’ll prevent or treat COVID-19, consistent with a latest warning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
On Thursday (Aug. 26), the CDC alerted doctors that there is been a surge in prescriptions for the drug, called ivermectin, since the pandemic began, along side a five-fold increase in calls to poison control regarding toxic effects from the drug. People are even taking sorts of the drug intended to be used in animals, which may be bought over the counter but aren’t safe for human use, and may cause serious side effects, consistent with the CDC.
In humans, ivermectin is approved to treat certain parasitic diseases; a topical version of the drug is usually wont to treat head lice. In animals, ivermectin can treat or prevent parasitic diseases like heartworm, consistent with the Food and Drug Administration.
But recently, misinformation about ivermectin has led some people to-take drug for COVID-19, albeit it isn’t approved for this use. The U.S. The National Institutes of Health has said that there is currently insufficient evidence to recommend the drug as a COVID-19 treatment. A March study of ivermectin use in mild COVID-19 cases found it had no benefit.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. retail pharmacies issued a mean of 3600 human prescriptions per week for ivermectin, consistent with the CDC. But in recent months, prescriptions have soared, reaching quite 88,000 prescriptions per week in mid-August, 2021, consistent with the CDC.
What’s more, calls to poison control centers across the U.S. regarding ivermectin exposure increased three-fold in January 2021, and five-fold in July 2021, compared with pre-pandemic levels, the agency said.
Veterinary sorts of the drug meant for giant animals, like horses & cows, are often very dangerous for people, in-part because they come-in-large or concentrated doses which will end in an overdose. Animal products also can contain inactive ingredients that haven’t been studied in humans, the CDC said.
Overdoses of ivermectin can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, low BP , decreased consciousness, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, coma & even death.
The CDC cited one example of a person who “drank an injectable ivermectin formulation intended to be used in cattle in an effort to stop COVID-19.” the person visited the hospital with confusion, drowsiness, hallucinations, & tremors; he recovered only after being hospitalized for 9 days.
The FDA issued similar warnings about ivermectin earlier this year. On Saturday (Aug. 21), the agency’s Twitter account made headlines when officials tweeted about ivermectin’s use: “You aren’t a horse. you’re not a cow. Seriously, y’all. Stop it.”.
People should remember & aware that ivermectin doesn’t treat or prevent COVID-19; and that they definitely shouldn’t swallow ivermectin products intended to be used on the skin or use in animals, the CDC warned. People should also seek immediate medical attention if they need taken ivermectin and are experiencing side effects. The agency also reiterated that the safest & most effective way-to prevent COVID-19 is to urge vaccinated against disease.
