The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned the public against using the drug against the animal parasite ivermectin to treat a COVID-19 infection at home.
“You are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously, everyone. Stop it, ”the agency said on Twitter, along with an article explaining why ivermectin should not be used to treat coronavirus.
You are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously, everyone. Stop it. https://t.co/TWb75xYEY4
– US FDA (@US_FDA) August 21, 2021
The article explained that while ivermectin can be prescribed to humans, the drug is for certain conditions and cannot be taken in high doses.
The ivermectin found on the counter is for animals such as horses and is used to deworm them. In addition, the FDA said the concentration of ivermectin for animals is very different from that for humans.
“On the one hand, animal drugs are usually very concentrated because they are used for large animals such as horses and cows, which can weigh much more than us, a ton or more. These high doses can be highly toxic to humans, “the FDA 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 people. In some cases, we do not know how these inactive ingredients will affect the absorption of ivermectin into the human body, “the FDA continued.
The agency’s warning comes amid multiple reports of people who have been hospitalized after using ivermectin for animals to try to treat a coronavirus infection.
Mississippi health officials recently warned hospitals of an increase in calls to the state’s poison control center because of people using ivermectin intended for animals to treat coronavirus.