Ivermectin

Lore & Background

It interferes with the nerves and muscles of parasites, leading to paralysis. It can be taken by mouth or applied to the skin for external infestations. William Campbell and Satoshi Ōmura were awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for its discovery and applications. It is available as a generic medicine and in a fixed-dose combination with albendazole.

Reader's Guide

Ivermectin is significant as a key antiparasitic agent on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. It is used in mass drug administration campaigns for river blindness and lymphatic filariasis, requiring annual doses over the 10–15-year lifespan of adult worms. It is the drug of choice for strongyloidiasis and is used for scabies, head lice, and other infestations. Misinformation claimed it is beneficial for treating and preventing COVID-19, but such claims are not backed by credible scientific evidence. Multiple major health organizations advise against its use for COVID-19. It is also not an effective treatment for hantavirus.

Did You Know?

• Ivermectin is approved by the US FDA as an antiparasitic agent.
• It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.
• William Campbell and Satoshi Ōmura won the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for its discovery and applications.