Poison information office cautioning public not to treat COVID-19 with animal dewormer

The Oklahoma Center for Poison and Drug Information has been receiving calls regarding the ill effects people are experiencing after ingesting a deworming medication intended for animals to treat COVID-19. 

Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic drug for animals that is readily available in farm stores, but the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved using ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19 in humans.  

The FDA further stresses that humans should never take medications intended for animals; preparations for animals are quite different from those approved for humans.  

There are no confirmed studies to show that ivermectin is useful to treat COVID-19, but it has not stopped some people from trying it.  

Bartlesville farm supply stores told the E-E that they have been selling out of ivermectin and have had to set limitations on how much each customer can buy.  

Since May 3, Scott Schaeffer, director of the OCPDI, told the E-E that the agency has had 10 calls in regards to 11 people who had taken the animal deworming medication and gotten sick. 

“About all we’ve seen on adverse effects was stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea and maybe dizziness,” Schaeffer said. While vomiting and diarrhea are the typical side effects if a person takes too much ivermectin, hypotension, seizures and coma are the more serious possibilities. There can also be an interaction if a person is on blood thinning medications. 

Since the animal formulation is much more concentrated, especially the kind used for horses, there is the possibility for a significant overdose in a much lighter-in-weight human, he said. Bottom line? Do not take medications intended for animals.  

“It’s a dewormer and we’re talking about a virus,” Schaeffer said. “If there was a peer-reviewed journal that showed there was a benefit I’d certainly take that into consideration. There are a lot of people studying it, but nobody has come up with anything convincing to most of the medical community. 

“There are people, even physicians, making extraordinary claims. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof.” 

Schaeffer said taking the animal version of ivermectin is not something that is well-studied because it is not something that is a commonly reported experience.  

At farm stores, ivermectin is available as an injectable, a paste and in a liquid form. Schaeffer said people have been taking it in any available formulation. There have been reports of people spreading the paste on crackers or even pouring the liquid in their coffee.  

Someone who takes ivermectin and becomes sick should be evaluated by their doctor, Schaeffer said. There is a lot of misinformation on the internet; if a person is interested in trying it, they should always go to their doctor first regarding an off-label use.  

“I have received calls from pharmacists who have prescriptions written by doctors and say ‘What do I do with this?’” Schaeffer said. 

Ivermectin is approved to treat parasitic worms in humans who typically live in tropical environments. There is also a topical formulation to treat rosacea and head lice. If a doctor prescribes ivermectin for an FDA-approved use, it should be taken exactly as prescribed.