It’s safe to say, unless your practice involves veterinary or travel medicine, very few people had heard of ivermectin, until recently. Increasing information (and misinformation) in both traditional and social media about its use in the treatment and prevention of COVID-19 resulted in a surge in the consumption of ivermectin, with weekly U.S. prescriptions increasing 24-fold from 3,600 a week pre-pandemic to 88,000 for the week of August 13, 2021.
In Ohio, a woman has taken a hospital to court to try to force doctors to administer ivermectin – a drug they feel is medically inappropriate – to her husband, who is in a coma and suffering from COVID-19. The FDA has issued a warning about humans consuming ivermectin intended for veterinary use. As reports of adverse events and overdose-related to the drug have suddenly increased, prehospital providers need to understand ivermectin, its relationship to COVID-19 and what to expect if called for an overdose. Read More…