In the News
For the past year or more, during largest pandemic any of us have ever seen in our lifetimes, science has debated over the best way to get us out of it. We all want thing to go back to the way they used to be…when everything was “normal.” While most of the scientific world has agreed that becoming vaccinated is the best way, there have been a plethora of medications trialed that are already on the market and are effective against other things, not COVID related. Remdesivir, Lopinavir, Umifenovir, Favipiravir, and Oseltamivir are currently on the list of medications being used to treat COVID-19 patients. Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, which are used for malaria have been approved for emergency use by the FDA.
Recently, a drug called Ivermectin has been in the news after celebrity podcaster, Joe Rogan and NFL quarterback Aaron Rogers divulged that they both used the drug after contracting COVID-19. This drug is commonly used since 1975 for treatment of heartworms, scabies and other parasitic infections. Since this has been in the news recently, I wanted to look at some research and decipher if the “facts” are accurate or not.
Miracle Cure???
My research has indicated there may be (emphasis on may be) a correlation between Ivermectin and reduced COVID related hospitalizations and fatalities.
There have been several notable incidents where major metropolitan areas pushed residents to take Ivermectin with amazing effects. One such incident was last year in December in Mexico City where, after a sudden rise in COVID cases, the city created home-treatment kits for people. The drug Ivermectin was included in these kits and people were urged to take it, even if they were asymptomatic.
200,000 people were followed and split in two factions; a group who took Ivermectin and one who did not. Findings noted between 52 and 76 percent reduced rate of hospitalizations for residents that took Ivermectin.
Another incident took place in Zimbabwe last January. They experienced a spike in cases, reaching 70 deaths per day. Ivermectin was authorized to be used and exactly one month later, they were down to zero deaths per day. India and South Africa experienced similar events, greatly reducing deaths and hospitalizations following encouragement from the state to take Ivermectin.
A study in May of 2020 reviewed 280 patients who had COVID-19, 170 received doses of Ivermectin and 110 patients did not. Patients who took Ivermectin had a significantly reduced mortality rate, (13%) compared with those who did not (24%.)
Another article I came across in my research stated a possible reason why African countries tend to have lower than average COVID cases (8% lower) may be because Ivermectin is a widely-used medication for treating parasitic infections and viral diseases in these countries.
https://www.biznews.com/health/2021/07/29/ivermectin-treatment
So, What’s What?
It’s true. Ivermectin seems like it may be able to help slow the transmission of COVID-19. Many studies that I have looked at indicate a dip in total cases, hospitalizations and deaths after having taking the drug, as opposed to a control group who did not.
The media outlets I came across did a good job outlining the potential for this drug to combat COVID-19. They also advised caution and restraint against haphazardly taking the drug. The main point that I repeatedly learned was that there just aren’t enough clinical trials and studies done under the guidance and supervision of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and WHO (World Health Organization) for Ivermectin to be considered a reliable treatment against COVID-19. There have been a lot of misinformation related to COVID-19, but as far as I have seen, the media got this one right!
The media has also done a good job with portraying danger if Ivermectin is taken in large doses. Multiple sites visited during my research have warned that for Ivermectin to be effective against COVID-19, you would have to digest the medication in higher than the recommended quantities. In California, there has been a rise in Ivermectin poisoning. 21 people reported Ivermectin poisoning, as taken as a preventative therapy to COVID. 6 people were hospitalized with various symptoms.
Ivermectin Poisonings Rise as Unproven Use for Covid Soars: EBSCOhost (neit.edu)
References
Cepelowicz Rajter, J., S. Sherman, M., Fatteh, Naaz., Vogel, Fabio, Sacks, Jamie, Rajter, Jean-Jacques, (2021, Jan). Use of Ivermectin is Associated with Lower Mortality in Hospitalized Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019: The Ivermectin in Covid Nineteen Study. Chest. https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S0012369220348984?token=8112DBF8763FCE5B1EB7474D8ED5FCAC0082DB124B24380D4AD4682FC3E482B5611F5885106A5E136BE1A72776F3A866&originRegion=us-east-1&originCreation=20211107154453.
Guerrero R., Bravo, Eduardo L., Munoz E., Grillo, E., Guerrero, E., COVID-19: The Ivermectin African Enigma. Colombia Medica. 2020; 51(4): 1-8. Doi:10.25100/cm.y51i4.4613
Heidary, F., Gharebaghi, R., Ivermectin: A Systematic Review from Antiviral Effects to COVID-19 Complimentary Regimen, 2020, June 12, Journal of Antibiotics, 73, 593-602, doi: http://doe.org/10.1038/s41429-020-0336-z
Ivermectin Uses, Side Effects & Warnings. Drugs.com. (n.d.). https://www.drugs.com/ivermectin.html.
Langreth R. Ivermectin Poisonings Rise as Unproven Use for Covid Soars. Bloomberg.com. October 2021:N.PAG. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=153237398&site=ehost-live
Podcaster Joe Rogan reveals COVID-19 Diagnosis Ivermectin Treatment. – youtube.com. (n.d.). from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a33oJ7_Qjt4.
Popp, M., Stegemann, M., Metzendorf, M., Gould, S., Kranke P., Meybohm, P., Skoetz, N., Weibel, S., 2021, July 28, Ivermectin for Preventing and Treating COVID-19, Cochrane Library, https://doe.org/10.1002/14651858.CD015017.pub2
Should Ivermectin be Used to Prevent or Treat COVID-19 Infection. (n.d.). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0WmnVTCcnU.
Swart, N. (2021, August 3). A plea to allow the use of ivermectin as COVID-19 treatment delivered to Ramaphosa’s House. BizNews.com. https://www.biznews.com/health/2021/07/29/ivermectin-treatment.