Ivermectin is not approved for use to treat COVID-19 .
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ), certain animal formulations of ivermectin are approved in the U.S. to treat or prevent parasites in animals .
Medications formulated or intended for use in animals should not be used by humans. veterinary forms of this medicine are highly concentrated for big animals and pose a significant toxicity risk for humans.
Reading: What is ivermectin?
AMA opposes off-label manipulation of ivermectin for COVID-19
AMA opposes off-label use of ivermectin for COVID-19
Ivermectin is reportedly being prescribed off label to treat those who have the COVID-19 virus. The AMA, American Pharmacists Association and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists strongly oppose the order, prescribing or dispensing of ivermectin to prevent or treat COVID-19 outside of a clinical trial .
Use of ivermectin for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 has been demonstrated to be harmful to patients and causes adverse events, according to the CDC Health Advisory. Calls to poison control centers due to ivermectin consumption have increased quintuple from their pre-pandemic service line .
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Why ivermectin should not be used to prevent or treat COVID-19
In the Sept. 9, 2021, AMA COVID-19 video update, John Farley, MD, MPH, conductor, Office of Infectious Diseases in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research ’ s Office of New Drugs, FDA, discusses why patients should not use ivermectin for COVID-19 .
Dr. Farley cautions that physicians must consider the “ …side effects from the drug itself and that could be worse in some patients and need to be monitored. These include stomach problems, skin rash and itch, and nervous system problems, including dizziness and tremors. ”
far, “ …physicians besides know with any drug, there are potential interactions with early drugs the affected role might be taking and there ‘s some patients who require a particular kind of risk-benefit circumstance when considering ivermectin. ”
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What the FDA wants doctors to tell patients asking for ivermectin
Prescribing medications responsibly
Prescribing medications responsibly
Physicians are expected to prescribe drugs “ based entirely on medical considerations, patient need, and reasonable expectations of potency for the particular patient, ” according to the AMA ’ s Code of Medical Ethics .
When prescribing off label, however, physicians must determine what reckon as “ fair expectations ” under conditions of greater than common doubt given the absence of relevant data for the intended use, in accession to determining appropriate venereal disease and road of administration .
responsibly prescribing an approved medicine for a novel, off pronounce consumption requires that the doctor reflect critically on the evidence that is available, search remark from knowledgeable colleagues or other medical professionals, and attend cautiously to minimizing the risks to the patients. — ( Opinion 1.2.11, “ Ethically Sound Innovation in Medical Practice, ” AMA Code of Medical Ethics ) .
The most effective ways to limit the spread of COVID-19 are to get vaccinated, wear a confront dissemble, stay at least six feet from others in public places and wash hands frequently .
research other AMA resources on COVID-19
Explore other AMA resources on COVID-19
The AMA ’ s COVID-19 resource center has evidence-based news, guidance, video recording, podcasts, research highlights and more on the pandemic. Read about the latest on COVID-19 vaccines.
Read more: Having SARS-CoV-2 once confers much greater immunity than a vaccine—but vaccination remains vital
other key COVID-19 resources include :
Reviewed by: Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH, director of science, medicate & populace health, AMA
Reviewed on: December 10, 2021
