People are taking dangerous doses of an antiparasitic drug as a COVID-19 treatment, although there is no solid evidence that it has any benefit for the disease.
The drug, called ivermectin, is often used to treat or prevent parasitic diseases in animals, such as heartworm. Food and Drug Administration. In humans, some forms of the drug are used to treat parasitic worms, and a topical version is sometimes used to treat head lice.
Recently, incorrect information about ivermectin has led some people to take the drug for COVID-19, even though it has not been approved for this use. The idea to use ivermectin for COVID-19 arose last year when a study by researchers in Australia found that large doses of the drug show activity against the new coronavirus in laboratory dishes. The Washington Post reports. But studies in humans have been limited and have shown mixed results. The Infectious Diseases Association of America recommends using ivermectin for COVID-19 outside of clinical trials.
Some people take veterinary forms of the drug because the formulations are more readily available than those prescribed by humans. The Washington Post.
This can have dangerous consequences: veterinary forms of the drug intended for large animals, such as horses and cows, come in very large doses, according to the FDA, which can be very toxic to humans. The agency says they have received several reports of people being admitted to hospital after taking self-medication with a form of ivermectin intended for horses.
In humans, overdoses of the drug can cause nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, allergic reactions, seizures, coma and even death, the FDA says. And even smaller doses of the veterinary medicine can pose risks. This is because many inactive ingredients in veterinary medicine have not been studied for use in humans, and these inactive ingredients can pose risks and affect how the drug is metabolized in humans, the FDA says.
Research on ivermectin continues and the National Institutes of Health may study the drug as part of a clinical trial on the reuse of older drugs for the treatment of COVID-19, according to the Post. (However, the inclusion of ivermectin in the trial has not been confirmed, reports the Post.)
Meanwhile, the FDA warns that taking a drug for an unapproved use can be dangerous and that people should never take drugs intended for animals.
Originally published on Live Science.