Ivermectin (Brand name in US-Stromectol) is a medication I have prescribed many times for patients with a variety of worms, other parasites and scabies. It is also used to treat and prevent dogs from getting “heart worm”. I have reviewed all the published reports about the use of ivermectin for Covid-19. There has not been a controlled study (matched for age, medical problems, gender, ethnicity, medications) and a only few case reports (mostly in India and South America) that suggest it could be helpful when no other treatments are available. This directs us to do controlled studies looking at who it might help, if at all, and at what dose (dose by weight?, dose change with liver or kidney disease?, etc). In the laboratory, ivermectin did prevent the virus from leaving the cells over time (days) at certain doses. We have no data if it works for covid in humans or what a treatment dose should be used for a virus, not a worm. We have good data now in developed countries, including the US, on best treatments for Covid-19. Key is early diagnosis and treatment early in the very ill and those at high risk for hospitalization or an ICU stay. I am concerned someone may try ivermectin and not get treatment with medications that have been proven to have better outcomes in the US and other developed countries.
What is Ivermectin and does it Treat Covid-19?
