Ivermectin, ‘wonder drug’ Against Covid-19?

     

Ivermectin Drug for Covid-19

I first heard of ivermectin from my brother who learned of it after a check-up following a covid-19 scare in their house. Thankfully, they were all negative. The doctor they consulted at that time, however, mentioned a drug that might help protect against covid-19, Ivermectin.

I did not think much of ivermectin at first. I guess I just heard of one too many different tips on how to avoid covid-19. It was probably due to this lack of enthusiasm that my brother started sending me article after article about ivermectin; with different doctors and research studies touting its effectivity in prevention and treatment of covid-19.  

There were a lot of information to go through and, since I am not a doctor, much of the data just went over my head. From the things I understood, this is what I found out:

Ivermectin, was originally developed by Japan in 1975 as an anti-parasitic & anti-viral drug. It was called a “wonder drug.” It was initially used for treatment of parasites in animals, but later also found uses in humans, such as for the treatment of head lice and scabies.  It is listed as an essential anti-parasitic drug by the World Health Organization (WHO) and it is also an approved prescription drug by the US Federal Drug Administration (FDA). The drug has been proven safe, with a few experiencing side effects like rashes, dizziness, vomiting and stomach pains. Millions of people have used Ivermectin for the past 30 years with over 3 billion doses distributed globally.

Then came 2020 and covid-19. With the infection rates rising and hospitalizations climbing, many doctors tried different approved drugs for treatment. Some of those treatments included ivermectin. A study in Australia had shown that ivermectin is effective against covid-19 “in vitro”, i.e. tests outside a living cell.

Studies in actual human use though is still ongoing. In Peru, it has been reported that ivermectin accounted for an 85% drop in mortality but there have been questions in the methodology used. This has been the common response by experts to claims of its effectivity and the reason why you will find warnings against its use for covid-19 patients. While the numbers look promising for using ivermectin as an early treatment of covid-19, the research methodology and sample size of each research has put some doubt on its efficacy.

Is ivermectin a “wonder drug” against covid-19? The answer to that is not yet final but is not far off either. The WHO is currently in process of compiling all the data in these various studies. A report of their findings is expected around March 2021.