Ivermectin overdose death polled in New Mexico: “I don’t want more people to die”

A person in New Mexico is suspected of dying from an ivermectin overdose, a state official said Thursday. A second person in the condition is also in critical condition after using the drug, which is an antiparasitic drug primarily used in veterinary medicine to deworm animals, such as cattle and horses.

If it is confirmed that the death was caused by ivermectin, it would be the first known fatal overdose of ivermectin in New Mexico. The dewormer has recently seen a sharp increase in its use – and ensuing poisonings – due to false claims that it can treat and prevent COVID-19.

There is no significant clinical data indicating that ivermectin can treat or prevent COVID-19. The Food and Drug Administration, along with many other medical experts and the drug’s maker, Merck, continue to strongly oppose the use of ivermectin against COVID-19 and warn of serious side effects and potentially fatal overdoses.

At a press briefing Thursday, New Mexico Human Services Secretary Dr David Scrase said he had taken a “calculated risk” in announcing the alleged overdose death “without firm documentation” that the ivermectin was to blame. An investigation into the cause of death could take weeks, he said.

But the word that ivermectin was the cause of death was “reliable,” Dr Scrase said. “I don’t want more people to die from an ivermectin overdose in the next four weeks while we collect data.”

“I just want people to know that – if there are people taking it – it can kill them,” he added.

Dangerous climb

In low doses, ivermectin is approved for use in humans to treat certain parasitic infections, including intestinal worms and external parasites such as head lice. But the drug comes with serious side effects, such as severe rash that may require hospitalization, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, swelling of the face or limbs, effects neurological adverse events (dizziness, seizures, confusion), sudden drops in blood pressure, and liver damage, according to the FDA.

Yet with the latest increase in COVID-19 cases and widespread misinformation about the circulation of ivermectin, prescriptions for human forms of the drug have increased 24-fold this summer, compared to pre-pandemic use.

But not all people with false beliefs about ivermectin have been able to get a prescription for human formulations. This has caused many people to turn to the much more dangerous veterinary formulations, which are intended for large animals such as horses, cows, pigs and sheep and can easily lead to overdoses. An overdose of ivermectin can cause neurological problems, seizures, coma and death.

Farm and animal supply stores across the country have reported increased demand and empty shelves amid the scramble for misinformation about ivermectin. In an Aug. 26 health alert, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a five-fold increase in calls to poison control centers regarding the use of ivermectin.