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Five Oregonians were hospitalized recently due to the consumption of an antiparasitic drug, ivermectin, despite no clinical data supporting its use in protection against COVID-19.
The Oregon Poison Center handled 25 cases involving ivermectin use between August 1 and September 14. Two of the five Oregonians hospitalized required intensive care.
The United States Food and Drug Administration has approved ivermectin tablets to treat people with intestinal strongyloidiasis and onchocerciasis, two conditions caused by parasitic worms, according to the FDA website. Some topical forms of the medication are approved to treat head lice and skin conditions, such as rosacea.
“Neither the FDA nor the National Institutes of Health have approved its use for COVID-19, and OHSU does not recommend any use of ivermectin for COVID-19,” Oregon Health & Science University officials wrote. in a press release. “Early lab research indicated that ivermectin may be able to treat COVID-19, but when tested in human trials, ivermectin did not decrease symptoms or cure the disease. “
Patients identified by OHSU as using ivermectin were between 20 and 80 years old, most over 60 years old, and were split equally between males and females. Some cases, according to OHSU, include people who have obtained a prescription for human or veterinary forms of the drug.
Robert Hendrickson, medical director of the Oregon Poison Center at OHSU and professor of emergency medicine at OHSU School of Medicine, said that after reviewing numerous human studies conducted on the drug, he did not There is no evidence that there is a decrease in symptoms or a cure for COVID-19.
“If you look at all the data, it really suggests it’s not working at all,” Hendrickson said. “We just want (to inform people) not to take it if you think about it or to stop taking it if you do.”
Hendrickson said the drug is difficult for patients to dose and people could have serious reactions with other prescribed drugs.
“COVID-19 is a devastating disease and can be very frightening, but the public does not need to use – and neither should they use – unproven and potentially dangerous drugs to fight it,” said Hendrickson in a press release.
-Alexandra Skores
[email protected]; 503-221-8073; @AlexandraSkores
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