The FDA urges people not to take animal worm medications to treat or prevent COVID-19

by

CINCINNATI (WXIX) – The Food and Drug Administration says it has received multiple reports from hospitalized patients after taking ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug commonly used in horses, to treat or prevent COVID-19.

“You’re not a horse,” he tweeted to the FDA on Saturday. “You are not a cow. Seriously, everyone. Stop it. “

The FDA has not approved ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19 in humans. It is not an antiviral drug.

One form of ivermectin is FDA approved in humans for two specific conditions caused by parasitic worms. It is available by prescription.

The other form of ivermectin is used in animals to treat heartworms and parasites. According to the FDA, it is only safe when prescribed for animals and can be highly toxic, even deadly.

“There’s a lot of misinformation around, and you may have heard that it’s okay to take large doses of ivermectin,” an FDA spokesman said. “This is wrong.”

Vermectin overdose causes nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, allergic reactions, dizziness, balance problems, seizures, coma, and even death, according to the FDA.

It can also interact with other medications such as anticoagulants.

“In addition, the FDA reviews drugs not only for the safety and effectiveness of the active ingredients, but also for the inactive ingredients,” the spokesman said. “Many inactive ingredients found in animal products are not evaluated for use in humans. Or they are included in a much larger amount than those used in humans. In some cases, we don’t know how these inactive ingredients are. they will affect the absorption of ivermectin in the human body ”.

Copyright 2021 WXIX through Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

.Source