US FDA: "Do Not Use Animal Deworming Drugs for COVID-19 Treatment"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] On the 21st (local time), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned against using the antiparasitic drug Ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19.

On the same day, the FDA tweeted, "You are not a horse. You are not a cow. Stop it," linking to a detailed explanation on the FDA website about why Ivermectin, commonly used as an animal dewormer in the U.S., should not be used for COVID-19 prevention or treatment.

According to the U.S. media outlet The Hill, Mississippi health authorities recently informed local hospitals that calls to poison control centers from people who took animal-grade Ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment have surged.

In the May 3rd post linked in the FDA's tweet, the agency stated, "We have received multiple reports of patients requiring treatment or hospitalization after self-administering Ivermectin intended for horses."

The FDA emphasized that while Ivermectin is approved for parasite treatment at specific dosages, it is not an antiviral drug, and especially that animal-grade Ivermectin differs from formulations approved for human use.

The FDA warned, "There is a lot of misinformation circulating, but it is wrong," adding, "Overdosing on Ivermectin can cause vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, allergic reactions, dizziness, seizures, coma, and even death."

It further stressed, "Animal drugs are often highly concentrated because they are used for large animals like horses or cows," and "high doses are extremely toxic to humans."

Additionally, the FDA pointed out, "Many inactive ingredients in animal products have not been evaluated for human use," and "we do not know how these inactive ingredients affect humans when Ivermectin is absorbed."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.