Ivermectin is an FDA-approved medication to treat parasitic infections like scabies, etc. It was discovered in the 1970s, and has been used in people since the 1980s. It has been used so widely for so many years that an estimated 3 billion human persons have used ivermectin. Developing nations sometime distribute ivermectin to treat parasitic infections in mass distribution programs to tens of thousands to millions of persons at a time.

Ivermectin is on the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines for children, and their general list of essential medicines (for adults). It is approved for use in children weighing 15 kg (33 lbs) or more. However, it requires a physicians prescription in the United States. In some other nations, such as Mexico, it is available over-the-counter (without prescription).

The main side effects from ivermectin are caused when it is used to treat parasitic infections, and the dying off of the parasites causes those side effects. When ivermectin is used for scabies (skin parasites) or for other conditions, it has little side effects, except (like almost any medication taken by mouth) sometimes causing an upset stomach.

Ivermectin is better absorbed with taken with food. Taking ivermectin with food can also reduce the risk that it will irritate the stomach.

Usual dosage is 0.2 milligrams of ivermectin per kilogram of body weight, or 0.091 milligrams of ivermectin per pound of body weight.

Covid-19

Some physicians, such as those at the Front Line Covid-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC.net), recommend the use of ivermectin to prevent and to treat Covid-19. Studies supporting the use of ivermectin for Covid-19 can be found at: IVMmeta.com. They report that “98% of the 52 studies to date report positive effects” and that “96% of the 27 Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) report positive effects, with an estimated 64% improvement, RR 0.36 [0.24-0.52].”

However, ivermectin is not approved by the FDA specifically for Covid-19; it is FDA approved for other conditions. Physicians can still write prescriptions for ivermectin for Covid-19, but some pharmacies will refuse to fill the prescription, unless it is for scabies or another type of parasitic infection.

When treating Covid-19, the dosing recommended by the FLCCC Alliance is between 0.2 and 0.4 milligrams of ivermectin per kilogram of body weight. For example, a 132 lb person would weigh about 60 kilograms, and 60 times 0.2 is 12 mg of ivermectin. The 0.4 mg dose would be twice that number (60 x 0.4 = 24 mg).

Ivermectin is also widely used to treat horses. This “horse paste” type of ivermectin does not have the quality control and purity of prescription medication and is not recommended for use by humans.

More on Ivermectin and Covid-19 at YouTube

Ronald L Conte Jr
covid.us.org
“an author, not a doctor”