Ivermectin for Parasites... and COVID-19?

Disclaimer.  I am not a licensed health practitioner.  This is just another post on knowledge and understanding you might wish to acquire in advance of a disaster in case no higher care is available.  As long as our society is functioning, you should leave anything more substantial than applying a Band-Aid to the professionals.  No medication, including those available over the counter, should be taken without consulting a physician.  Information shared here is for educational and entertainment purposes only.  It is not medical advice nor a substitute for licensed medical care. 



I first became aware of ivermectin several years ago when my daughters began raising French angora rabbits.  Every once in a while one or two would acquire mites from going to a rabbit show.  The mites were easily treated with ivermectin, an antiparasitic medication that did not require a prescription or a trip to the vet.  Unlike many other medications, it is very well-tolerated by rabbits and easy to administer, even for little girls.

In the course of researching mebendazole, worms, and scabies, I came across numerous references to using ivermectin to treat parasitic infections in people.  And then I'd also see that it wasn't approved for use in people.  And that was only partially true.  Now it's time for the whole truth.

Ivermectin for people is by prescription only and is sold under the brand name Stromectol.  It is an FDA-approved treatment for worm infestations, and as such is taken internally.  Stromectol is not FDA-approved for internal use for treating other parasitic conditions.  If the FDA's blessing is important to you, then you don't need to read any further today.  The balance of this post concerns other uses for ivermectin.

Scabies.  The Centers for Disease Control recommends the use of ivermectin to treat scabies in patients for whom other treatments have failed or who cannot tolerate FDA-approved topical medications for eliminating scabies.  Two doses of oral ivermectin are taken 7 days apart, in a dosage of 200µg/kg/dose.[1]  Usually, it is recommended that ivermectin be taken on an empty stomach; however, scabies researchers indicate that the bioavailability of ivermectin is improved when it is taken with food.[2]

Norwegian (crusted) scabies.  With this severe form of scabies, both oral ivermectin and a topical agent should be used.  Oral ivermectin in a dosage of 200µg/kg/dose should be taken with food.  The number of doses depends on the severity of the infection:

• three doses taken on days 1, 2, and 8
• five doses taken on days 1, 2, 8, 9, and 15
• seven doses taken on days 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 22, and 29[3]

Scabies patients treated with ivermectin overwhelmingly approved this treatment as being easier, faster, and much more effective.  The itching resolved much more quickly and patients were able to sleep better.[4]

Lice.  As with scabies, the US FDA does not approve the internal use of ivermectin to treat lice.  However, oral ivermectin has been used to successfully eliminate lice.  Like the regimen for scabies, it is given in a single dose of 200µg/kg.  The dose is repeated 9-10 days later.  Ivermectin for treating lice is also prescribed in a lotion form which may be used on infants at least six months of age and older. [5] [10]

COVID-19.  As scientists the world over scramble to find a treatment for COVID-19, we hear rumor upon rumor of novel treatments.  Vicks Vaporub or Neosporin rubbed inside the nose, do use elderberry, don't use elderberry,  etc.  By the time a few doctors went on record saying that hydroxychloroquine, sometimes with Zithromax thrown in, was successfully curing all their patients, it was too late to find any anywhere.  Will the same be true with ivermectin?  Preliminary research published 3 April 2020 demonstrated that ivermectin killed COVID-19 in laboratory experiments.  No research has yet been done on people.  Ivermectin for people is available through overseas pharmacies like All Day Chemist.  Ivermectin for livestock is sold in feed and ranch stores.  If you choose to get any, make sure it's the stuff administered orally.  The topical application won't work here.  And really, you should only be getting it as a possible treatment for lice or scabies.  It hasn't been tested in people for COVID-19 and correct dosages have yet to be determined.  If it turns out to work in people for that disease, then you'll have some on hand.[6, 7]

Side effects:  Uncommon side effects of ivermectin include dizziness, skin itching, fever, diarrhea, drowsiness, and loss of appetite.  Aspirin and antihistamines may be taken to counteract these side effects.  [9]

Contraindications:  Ivermectin is not indicated for use in children weighing less than 15 kg or in pregnant women.  The World Health Organization indicates that ivermectin has been used to safely treat younger children in reduced dosages.[8]

Links to related posts:
Scabies
Lice
Mebendazole

References:
[1] "Parasites: Medications," Centers for Disease Control, https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/scabies/health_professionals/meds.html (accessed 19 March 2020).
[2] Bart J. Currie, et al., "Permethrin and Ivermectin for Scabies," New England Journal of Medicine, 25 February 2010, 362(8), https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20181973/ (accessed 19 March 2020).
[3] "Parasites: Medications," Centers for Disease Control, https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/scabies/health_professionals/meds.html (accessed 19 March 2020).
[4]  Terri L. Meinking, et al., "The Treatment of Scabies with Ivermectin," New England Journal of Medicine, 6 July 1995, 333(26), https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199507063330105 (accessed 19 March 2020).
[5] "Parasites:  Treatment," Centers for Disease Control, https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/treatment.html (accessed 19 March 2020).
[6] Christine McGinn, "Coronavirus:  Anti-Parasitic Drug Ivermectin Kills COVID-19 in Lab within 48 Hours," https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/anti-parasitic-drug-kills-covid-19-in-lab-c-955457 (accessed 4 April 2020).[7]  Leon Caly, et al., "The FDA-Approved Drug Ivermectin Inhibits the Replication of SARS-Cov-V2 in vitro," Antiviral Research, 3 April 2020, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166354220302011 (accessed 4 April 2020).  
[8]  "Parasites--Ascariasis:  Resources for Health Care Professionals," Centers for Disease Control, https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/ascariasis/health_professionals/index.html (accessed 19 March 2020).
[9] "Ivermectin Side Effects,"  https://www.drugs.com/sfx/ivermectin-side-effects.html (accessed 6 April 2020).

[10] "Ivermectin," rxwiki.com, (accessed 6 April 2020).


https://www.trialsitenews.com/how-a-grass-roots-health-movement-led-to-acceptance-of-ivermectin-as-a-covid-19-therapy-in-peru/