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Covid-19: Health authorities implore Americans to stop ivermectin-based treatments

Stephen A. Cook

Ivermectin is primarily intended for animals such as horses and cows.

In an article published over the weekend, US health officials warned the public against using an animal pest control drug, ivermectin, to treat a Covid-19 infection at home.

“You are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously, stop all now, ”the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Twitter, sharing an article explaining why ivermectin shouldn’t be used to treat coronavirus.

The article explains that although ivermectin can be prescribed for humans, this drug is intended for them for certain conditions and cannot be taken in large doses.

“On the one hand, animal medicines are often very concentrated because they are used for large animals like horses and cows, which can weigh much more than us, a ton or more. Such high doses can be highly toxic in humans, ”explains the FDA.

“Many inactive ingredients found in animal products are not evaluated for use in humans. Or they are included in much larger amounts than those used in humans. In some cases, we don’t know how these inactive ingredients will affect the way ivermectin is absorbed into the human body, ”the FDA continues.

The agency’s warning comes as several recently published reports of people being hospitalized in the United States after taking ivermectin in an attempt to treat a coronavirus infection.
“You are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously, stop now.” In a tweet published this Saturday, August 21, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urged Americans to stop using ivermectin, an antiparasitic used in animals, against Covid-19.In an article shared on the social network, the authority says it understands that “some are turning to unconventional, unapproved or unauthorized treatments by the FDA”, most “be careful”, she adds. “There seems to be a growing interest in a drug called ivermectin”, “Often used in the United States to treat or prevent parasites in animals. The FDA has received several reports of patients requiring medical support and being hospitalized after self-medicating with ivermectin intended for horses.”, she adds.

“Taking large doses of this drug is dangerous and can cause serious harm”, “Never use medicine intended for animals on yourself. Ivermectin preparations for animals are very different from those intended for humans.”, can we still read. Ivermectin is sometimes used in humans, especially to treat parasitic worms or skin problems, but not in the same form given to animals.

Calls for vigilance all over the world

In France, a request to grant temporary authorization to use ivermectin to treat or prevent Covid-19 was rejected by the French Medicines Agency at the beginning of last April. The European Medicines Agency (EMA / AEM) and the WHO, on March 22 and 31, also recommended not to use it for Covid outside of clinical trials. But ivermectin has been the subject of intense promotion on social networks, by influencers and personalities, especially in Indonesia. Fueled by the anti-vaccine movement and conspiracy theories, demand for ivermectin has also jumped in Brazil, South Africa and Lebanon.Even the manufacturer of the drug, Merck, assured that the idea of ​​a “potential therapeutic effect against Covid-19 has no scientific basis” and warned of the possible risks if the medicine is not administered correctly.

In an article published this weekend, theAmerican health authorities have warned the public against using an animal pest control drug, ivermectin, to treat a Covid-19 infection at home.

“You are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously, stop all now, ”the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Twitter, sharing an article explaining why ivermectin shouldn’t be used to treat coronavirus.

The article explains that although ivermectin can be prescribed for humans, it is intended for humans for certain conditions and cannot be taken in large doses.

Ivermectin, over the counter, is intended for animals such as horses and is used to deworm them. Additionally, the FDA states that the concentration of ivermectin for animals is significantly different from that for humans.

“On the one hand, animal medicines are often very concentrated because they are used for large animals like horses and cows, which can weigh much more than us, a ton or more. Such high doses can be highly toxic in humans, ”explains the FDA.

“Many inactive ingredients found in animal products are not evaluated for use in humans. Or they are included in much larger amounts than those used in humans. In some cases, we don’t know how these inactive ingredients will affect the way ivermectin is absorbed into the human body, ”the FDA continues.

The agency’s warning comes ashave recently been published several reports of people having been hospitalized in the United States after taking ivermectin in an attempt to treat a coronavirus infection.

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