FDA has a simple message for Americans who are dosing themselves with ivermectin, a livestock de-wormer in dosages and formulations that are not approved for humans, as a treatment for COVID-19 infections: “Seriously y’all, stop it.”
In a tweet on August 21, FDA reminded Americans that FDA has no data on the safety or efficacy of ivermectin in humans for COVID-19 treatment. Ivermectin is approved in humans only for the topical treatment of head lice and rosacea, and in very small doses in tablet form for people with intestinal strongyloidiasis and onchocerciasis.
Even if there were any data on ivermectin and COVID-19, FDA explained, it is never safe for humans to take the livestock version of the medicine.
“For one thing, animal drugs are often highly concentrated because they are used for large animals like horses and cows, which can weigh a lot more than we do—a ton or more. Such high doses can be highly toxic in humans.”
For another thing, FDA, explained, it does not review drugs just for the safety and efficacy of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, it also reviews the inactive ingredients.
FDA said, “[m]any inactive ingredients found in animal products aren’t evaluated for use in people. Or they are included in much greater quantity than those used in people. In some cases, we don’t know how those inactive ingredients will affect how ivermectin is absorbed in the human body.”
In the meantime, FDA cautions, “[y]ou are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously, y’all. Stop it.”
thelawoflifesciences.com 