Can Ivermectin protect me from COVID-19?

Tell me about ivermectin, please.

Certain parasite infections are treated with a drug known as ivermectin. Only medical professionals in Singapore have access to it, and they commonly use it to treat parasitic infestations such as head lice or scabies. You cannot find it on store shelves.

Researchers with the intention of preventing parasitic infections first developed it in the United States throughout the 1970s. With it, farm animals like horses were dewormed.

Its usage for human consumption was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996. It was well renowned for treating river blindness in Latin American nations. Later on, it was also used to treat malaria and parasite infestations.

Why do many think that ivermectin can treat Covid-19?

Ivermectin was among the several drugs that were looked into in an attempt to find safe generic drugs that could be altered for use in the management of Covid-19.

One of the initial investigations, released in June 2020 by the US National Center for Biotechnology Information, showed that high ivermectin doses could inhibit the coronavirus responsible for Covid-19 in vitro.

Many clung to the hope that this was the answer humanity had been waiting for, even if the consequences on humans or animals had not yet been determined.

A multitude of studies are being carried out to assess ivermectin’s efficacy in treating Covid-19.

What declarations about ivermectin does the government make?

A: Ivermectin treatment for Covid-19 is still being researched, but authorities—including the World Health Organization—have stressed that the data to date do not support the drug’s effectiveness.

Merck, the company that makes ivermectin pills, has also issued a warning against treating Covid-19 with the drug.

According to Associate Professor Jenny Low, a leading infectious disease expert at Singapore General Hospital, who talked with ST, there isn’t enough evidence to support ivermectin’s promise as a treatment just yet.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) declared in a statement on Sunday, October 24 that “Covimectin 12 mg is a prescription-only medication registered in Singapore specifically for the treatment of parasitic worm infections.” It is not authorized by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) to be used as an antiviral drug for the management or avoidance of Covid-19.”

What dangers are associated with ivermectin use?

Ivermectin overuse can cause harmful side effects, including seizures and liver damage, according to the New England Journal of Medicine, a peer-reviewed publication published by the Massachusetts Medical Society.

The FDA recommended against using ivermectin, especially for those who simultaneously took blood thinners. It refuted the myth that large amounts of the tablets could be taken, and it said that taking large amounts of the medication may be very dangerous.

What about the evidence from study suggesting that COVID-19 can be treated with it?

A: Prof. Low claims that a large part of the ivermectin controversy stems from proponents of the medication’s disdain for the uneven caliber of studies assessing the medication’s effectiveness against Covid-19.

She went on to say, “The dosage tested is several hundred times higher than what is recommended for humans, so the doses that demonstrated the drug’s effectiveness in the laboratory do not translate to humans.”

Q: My friends are giving me ivermectin. Do I have to buy anything from them?

Ivermectin cannot be prescribed by anybody other than a doctor, so using it for self-medication is prohibited in Singapore.

The HSA is currently investigating the sale and illegal distribution of ivermectin in relation to the 65-year-old woman’s incident. The woman reportedly received the drug from a friend. ST has contacted MOH to inquire about ivermectin exposure instances in Singapore.

If found guilty of selling drugs illegally, a person may have legal consequences.

Those who spread false information about the virus could potentially face legal action.