LAS VEGAS (KTNV) – You are not a horse. The Food and Drug Administration felt the need to remind Americans on Twitter, following recent reports of people taking an animal dewormer in an effort to treat or prevent COVID-19.
The drug is called ivermectin and is intended primarily for the treatment of parasitic worms in animals. It began to gather human interest after the recent publication of a research paper describing the effect of ivermectin on SARS-CoV-2. But this research was done in a lab and the FDA strongly recommends against human consumption of ivermectin at this time.
But that doesn’t stop people from trying to get ivermectin here in the Las Vegas Valley.
At V&V Tack and Feed, they usually store and sell ivermectin for use in horses. But right now, they’re completely exhausted from the horse dewormer, and the store’s partner, Shelly Smith, suspects many of her customers aren’t using it as intended.
“I brought in a gentleman, who was an older gentleman. He told me that his wife wanted him to be part of the ivermectin plan. I immediately brought him here, because at that time he had this sign hanging and he told him that this is not safe for you.And he said, “Well, we’ve been taking it and my only side effect is that I can’t see it in the morning.” That’s a big side effect, so I probably won’t you should take it, ”Smith said.
Smith says demand for the dewormer began to rise months ago, so he decided to put a warning sign next to ivermectin.
“The first sign came a few months ago when you started seeing articles about ivermectin treating COVID. So when I ordered my ivermectin, I realized that our distributors had this [warning], so I thought I’d let myself hang one too to let people know “don’t take this,” Smith said.
Smith says demand for the drug has continued to rise in recent weeks and that he has received 4 or 5 calls from customers a day to find out about ivermectin. That’s why Smith hung a second sign, which now required customers to submit a picture of their horse before buying ivermectin.
“I don’t want people to take ivermectin horse worms because it’s horse worms. You have to show me that you have a horse so I can sell you this product because you shouldn’t take this product. This isn’t for humans. of treating parasites in horses, ”Smith said.
Dr. AJ Manship at the Desert Pines Equine Center would agree. He does not recommend that any human being take ivermectin and most animals for it.
“It can have many serious consequences in humans and, in fact, in some veterinary species, especially if the right dose is not administered. In animals, we have seen many neurological diseases, so seizures, coma, death if a “Many people who have shepherd dogs will know it. They are very sensitive to this medicine and can kill them. Dr. Manship.
One of the repercussions of people buying all ivermectin is that now horse owners have none to give to their horses. Shelly Smith says she can’t find any supplier now that has ivermectin in stock and has no guarantee it will change anytime soon.