BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Erie County Department of Health is the latest health agency to warn against the use of ivermectin for COVID-19 prevention or treatment.
Erie County is joining the Centers for Disease Control, Food and Drug Administration, and American Academy of Pediatrics in cautioning against use of the drug used to treat parasitic worms in horses.
Prescription ivermectin is approved to treat certain internal and external parasites in humans. The COVID-19 disease is caused by SARS-CoV-2, a coronavirus, which is not a parasite. Other ivermectin formulations are designed for use in animals, either for sale over the counter or from a veterinarian's prescription.
The Eroe County Department Of Health is warning health care professionals not to prescribe ivermectin products to treat or prevent COVID-19. They should also prepare how to respond to patient requests for off-label use of ivermectin or instructions on how to consume veterinary forms of ivermectin.
"Inactive ingredients in these drugs can be harmful to humans, and active ingredients can be highly concentrated and meant for livestock, which can be many times the size of an average human being," said Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein.
"Messages shared on social media have driven people to consider very dangerous actions," said Burstein. "COVID-19 has stirred up anxiety and fear in many people, and there are wells of misinformation on the Internet and in media that prey on those feelings. We cannot say this strongly enough: the best medical advice for you comes from your own physician, not Facebook memes, YouTube videos or group text messages."
The FDA says if unprescribed ivermectin use is suspected, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or call 9-1-1. Signs and symptoms of ivermectin overdose include: gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, dizziness, loss of coordination and balance, and neurologic effects.
