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Original poster

Why is Ivermectin being ignored?

34 replies

WilsonMilson · 19/05/2021 21:09

At this point I think it’s criminal that we aren’t using Ivermectin certainly as treatment, but also evidence for use as prophylaxis. What’s the agenda here? Why is this being almost entirely ignored? A cheap drug with a long proven safety record. I guess the answer is there - it’s cheap and out of patent, no one’s making any money.

Here’s the link. I’d also recommend the the last couple of episodes of the Dark Horse podcast - Dr Bret Weinstein and Dr Heather Heying talk about Covid in general, and Ivermectin in particular.

www.pharmacymagazine.co.uk/ivermectin-for-covid-19-a-cheap-drug-with-a-remarkable-effect

OP posts:
tywysoges · 19/05/2021 21:35

It’s being (been?) widely used in Brazil, where it’s an over the counter medicine sold for head lice. Make of that what you will.

riveted1 · 19/05/2021 21:38

[quote WilsonMilson]At this point I think it’s criminal that we aren’t using Ivermectin certainly as treatment, but also evidence for use as prophylaxis. What’s the agenda here? Why is this being almost entirely ignored? A cheap drug with a long proven safety record. I guess the answer is there - it’s cheap and out of patent, no one’s making any money.

Here’s the link. I’d also recommend the the last couple of episodes of the Dark Horse podcast - Dr Bret Weinstein and Dr Heather Heying talk about Covid in general, and Ivermectin in particular.

www.pharmacymagazine.co.uk/ivermectin-for-covid-19-a-cheap-drug-with-a-remarkable-effect[/quote]
There isn't enough good quality evidence yet on it's safety and effectiveness in treating (or preventing) coronavirus which is why it hasn't been approved.

It wasn't originally prioritised as a candidate when repurposing existing drugs for covid treatment as there were other more viable candidates. Other cheap drugs (e.g., dexamethasone) have been approved to treat coronavirus after RCTs were conducting.

Well designed RCTs are currently ongoing to understand if ivermectin is both safe and effective. If it is, it will be approved for treatment. It really is that simple and not a big conspiracy theory.

riveted1 · 19/05/2021 21:39

**conducted

it's getting late Grin

riveted1 · 19/05/2021 21:43

also just to jump on this point - just because a drug has been shown to be safe and effective in treating certain conditions (in this case, mainly parasitic infections), that doesn't automatically make it safe and effective in treating a viral respiratory disorder.

One of the big stumbling blocks (which is currently being tested) is that a much higher dose than given for these diseases is probably required to reach therapeutic levels in the lungs and respiratory tract.

Heyha · 19/05/2021 21:43

Be interesting to see what happens with this as it's being used less and less as a livestock wormer due to increasing resistance from parasites (not linking a virus to a parasite btw, I've got a microbiology degree 😂) so there's likely to be manufacturing capacity and existing stocks to use as well. Although I think it's still used in small animal medicine so would also be interesting to see the impact on cost of that, as an aside.

User24689 · 19/05/2021 21:45

Apparently the covid vaccines only had emergency approval for use, and one of the criteria for this was that they could not be used while there was an effective treatment. So I have heard a theory (conspiracy theory?!?) That treatments have been parked so that they could roll out the vaccine.

The problem is that trust in the government has been eroded to such an extent that theories such as this are believable.

User24689 · 19/05/2021 21:45

Thank you @riveted1, that is reassuring

riveted1 · 19/05/2021 21:46

@User24689

Apparently the covid vaccines only had emergency approval for use, and one of the criteria for this was that they could not be used while there was an effective treatment. So I have heard a theory (conspiracy theory?!?) That treatments have been parked so that they could roll out the vaccine.

The problem is that trust in the government has been eroded to such an extent that theories such as this are believable.

why have other treatments been approved in that case? And why conduct RCTs specifically designed to repurpose existing drugs to treat covid if you're trying to avoid it?
riveted1 · 19/05/2021 21:47

@User24689

Thank you *@riveted1*, that is reassuring
No prob, it's something in my area so feel (sort of) qualified to answer Grin
TheClaws · 20/05/2021 02:31

I agree with Riveted. It is tempting, but not everything should be viewed through the lens of conspiracy. Ivermectin may prove an effective prophylaxis - but at what dosage? Is it suitable for all ages and all conditions? Can a significant supply be moved from its current use without too much interruption, as we saw with hydroxychloroquine?

Inthetropics · 20/05/2021 02:43

@tywysoges

It’s being (been?) widely used in Brazil, where it’s an over the counter medicine sold for head lice. Make of that what you will.
It really isn't! Our president is an evil and irresponsible man who has tried to steer the public in the direction of drugs that have no scientific data to back up their suposed eficiency in treating COVID. Most brazilians fins this criminal. We are disgusted to have such a person as a president. Only a tiny percentage of the population comprised of radical right wing voters have used ivermectin and other drugs.
Losttheequipment · 20/05/2021 02:49

It’s not being ignored, it’s being investigated link

Dexamethasone has been used since the Recovery trial established that there was benefit about a year ago. It is as cheap as chips. No one is making any money out of that link

savethegrannies · 20/05/2021 03:04

OP do your own research on this drug including the studies. Don't take what strangers on forums like this say as gospel; anybody can write what they like here, as with any anonymous forum. Listen to what doctors etc in the field etc say about it and draw your own conclusions.

MissTrip82 · 20/05/2021 03:43

We routinely use drugs that are well and truly off-patent in ICU. Many of them continue to be the subject of trials despite being off-parent.

TheClaws · 20/05/2021 04:27

@savethegrannies

OP do your own research on this drug including the studies. Don't take what strangers on forums like this say as gospel; anybody can write what they like here, as with any anonymous forum. Listen to what doctors etc in the field etc say about it and draw your own conclusions.

Including you? What everyone has said here is sensible. But yes, the poster should research. It's easy to find what everyone else has noted.

savethegrannies · 20/05/2021 06:47

Yes including me TheClaws
'Sensible' can be subjective, as I am sure you know.
As I say, best to do some research of your own rather than take the views of folk on forums.

tywysoges · 20/05/2021 09:43

@Inthetropics I agree with every word you say about the president, having had the misfortune of knowing him personally way before he was president.

However there has been an astonishing rise in the sales of ivermectin in the past year - link -, plenty of doctors have been prescribing it and some local authorities and state governments are distributing it (alongside other meds) freely, so I am not sure it's a tiny percentage. Also, the prophylactic (mis)use has been linked to several cases of drug induced hepatitis, which to me suggests large numbers of people are taking it. (But I am not a doctor or a researcher, I am just a follower of mainstream news - do you have any data re the number of people who have actually taken it? I looked it up but couldn't find any stats.)

powershowerforanhour · 20/05/2021 11:47

Well shit. If I'd known that I'd gave been bunging ivermectin into all the dogs (except the MDR collies) with that horrible gastrointestinal coronavirus that was doing the rounds a couple of years ago. Except that the ones on avermectins for parasite control got it just as badly as the rest.

I echo previous posters discussing dexamethasone- it's as cheap as rags- the patent must have run out donkeys' years ago as there were different brands of it even when I was a student nearly 25 years ago and the bog standard plastic disposible syringe and needle you draw it up with probably costs more than the drug.

MadameOvary81 · 20/05/2021 12:28

Follow the money to find the answer.

strangeshapedpotato · 20/05/2021 12:50

@User24689

Apparently the covid vaccines only had emergency approval for use, and one of the criteria for this was that they could not be used while there was an effective treatment. So I have heard a theory (conspiracy theory?!?) That treatments have been parked so that they could roll out the vaccine.

The problem is that trust in the government has been eroded to such an extent that theories such as this are believable.

Utter bollocks.
riveted1 · 20/05/2021 12:53

@MadameOvary81

Follow the money to find the answer.
by this logic, why have other cheap off-patent drugs been approved for COVID treatment?
strangeshapedpotato · 20/05/2021 13:03

While it remains a possibility that it could have some effect, the current evidence is rubbish.

Debunked thoroughly here:
twitter.com/zchagla/status/1345853424827588611

Doctors who give drugs to patients on the basis of belief rather than evidence aren't good doctors.

Cookerhood · 20/05/2021 13:06

I thought the company making it had issued a statement telling people not to use it as it doesn't work. I'll see if I can find the link.

Cookerhood · 20/05/2021 13:08

I found this from earlier in the year but I thought there was something last week
www.merck.com/news/merck-statement-on-ivermectin-use-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/