On June 9, NBC News reported that 16 U.S. states have either passed or proposed laws to allow ivermectin, a medication used to treat parasites, to be sold without a prescription (over the counter).
However, the Food and Drug Administration has not labeled ivermectin for use over the counter. And despite what many social media users say, it does not cure COVID-19 or cancer.
We spoke to Dr. Preeti Malani, an infectious disease physician and professor at the University of Michigan, to find out more about ivermectin, its safety concerns, and more.
What is ivermectin?
Ivermectin is a medication used to treat conditions caused by parasitic worms in humans, such as strongyloidiasis and onchocerciasis (river blindness). In its topical form (as a cream), it is also used to treat head lice and skin conditions like rosacea, according to the FDA.
According to Malani, its use in the U.S. is “pretty limited,” but around the world it’s used to treat human infections from certain worms.
Some forms of the medication are also used in animals to treat parasites and to prevent heartworm disease in cats and dogs.
Are there any safety concerns with ivermectin?
Yes. Ivermectin can be dangerous when taken at high doses because it can cause low blood pressure, allergic reactions, seizures, coma, and even death.
Even though the medication is generally safe to take at the right dosage as directed by your doctor, it can still interact with other medications such as blood thinners, adds Malani.
“What I worry about is people taking large doses of ivermectin and taking them for many, many days, which we’ve heard about,” she says. “Just like any other medication, it could have drug interactions, depending on if certain people might be more susceptible to side effects and particularly at high doses.”
Is ivermectin approved to be sold over the counter?
NBC News reported that three U.S. states (Arkansas, Idaho, and Tennessee) have passed legislation allowing ivermectin to be available over the counter, and 13 others (including Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Maine) have proposed similar legislation. However, pharmacists in Arkansas, Idaho, and Tennessee told NBC News that they still can’t dispense ivermectin without a prescription because they rely on FDA guidance, and the FDA has not labeled the medication for over-the-counter use.
Can ivermectin treat COVID-19 or cancer?
No. Ivermectin doesn’t treat COVID-19 or cancer.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, false information about the medication has increased, with many social media users falsely claiming that it can treat or prevent COVID-19 and other diseases like cancer. For example, as Public Good News explained, a large-scale preprint study in November 2020 sparked a wave of false claims that ivermectin can treat COVID-19.
However, that study was withdrawn eight months later, never having completed peer review.
Data from several peer-reviewed studies “did not demonstrate that ivermectin was helpful” against COVID-19, Malani says.
While some scientists are researching the potential to use the medication to treat cancer, the medication hasn’t been studied extensively in humans, a KFF report says.
For more information, talk to your health care provider.