By Corina Tan
Ivermectin belongs to a class of drugs known as anthelmintics. It is described scientifically as a compound chemical formula mixture that is used in veterinary medicine as an anthelmintic, acaricide, and insecticide. The mixture of Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen was first modified and introduced in 1981 and became registered around the world to treat parasitic worms in cattle, sheep and other animals. By 1988, Ivermectin was approved as a medical treatment in humans for one specific purpose which is to treat different types of parasites; its method of action is to paralyze and kill parasites.
So, why are some doctors prescribing it to treat a respiratory virus like COVID-19? A medical study in Egypt led by Dr Ahmed Elgazzar published in November 2020, said that “…hospitalised patients with Covid-19 who received this antiparasitic drug improved more quickly and had a better chance of staying alive.” The study was retracted in July 2021 due to unidentified ethical concerns. Many study dates and numbers turned out to be inaccurate according to raw data received. Completeness of data also suggested fabrication, noting that they did not make sense in real-world conditions. A list of questions was sent to Dr Elgazzar, as well as the Benha University in Egypt, but both did not respond.
The Elgazzar study has often been cited as evidence of its effectiveness by those who propagate the drug, even though a peer review study found that Ivermectin was not a viable option to treat COVID-19 patients.
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In March 2021, the World Health Organisation warned against the use of Ivermectin outside of clinical trials, citing that “the current evidence on the use of Ivermectin to treat Covid-19 patients is inconclusive.”
Alarmingly, there has been a surge of purchases of Ivermectin from pharmacies and online stores, as the public rushes to hoard stock of this drug that they believe may just be the miracle that can save their lives. The danger in self-medicating without consulting or being under the care of a doctor is that there is a possibility of overdosing as well as side effects that people may not be prepared for. In some places around the world, there has been a large number of cases where hospitals have been deluged by patients who have overdosed on this antiparasitic drug. Side effects from Ivermectin include diarrhoea, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, severe skin rashes, tremors, confusion, low blood pressure, problems with balance, liver injury, seizures and induced comas.
The public is understandably interested in medicines to treat and prevent COVID-19 however, misinformation can be as dangerous as the virus itself. While the official warning is out about Ivermectin, some people may still be willing to take the risk. They should however know the dangers of it interacting with other medications they are already taking, and whether they are prepared for a drug that stays in the bloodstream for 18 hours and then the intestine for 12 days. If taken by people who have a weakened immune system or any chronic disease, heart disease, kidney disease or liver disease, it could be more harmful than helpful. The irony of it is that if an overdose of the drug happens, they could be hospitalised not for COVID-19, but for the use of Ivermectin.
