From the Guidelines
Ivermectin is not effective for treating COVID-19 and should not be used for this purpose. The most recent and highest quality study, published in 2024 in the Annals of Internal Medicine 1, found no evidence to support the use of ivermectin for treating COVID-19. This study, which is part of the living, rapid practice points from the American College of Physicians, concludes that ivermectin is not a recommended treatment for COVID-19.
Key Points
- The study found no new evidence to support the use of ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment 1.
- Other treatments, such as molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir–ritonavir combination therapy, have shown promise in reducing the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and are recommended for use in certain patient populations 1.
- Ivermectin is an antiparasitic medication that is not effective against viral infections like COVID-19.
- Using unproven treatments like ivermectin for COVID-19 may delay seeking appropriate medical care and could potentially cause harm through side effects or drug interactions.
Recommended Approach
- Patients with COVID-19 should seek medical care from a qualified healthcare provider and follow evidence-based treatment recommendations.
- Proven interventions for COVID-19 include vaccination, appropriate antiviral medications prescribed by healthcare providers, and supportive care based on symptom severity.
- Ivermectin shouldn't be used for COVID-19 treatment outside of clinical trials, as it has not been shown to be effective and may cause harm 1.
From the Research
Efficacy of Ivermectin in Treating COVID-19
- The evidence on the effectiveness of ivermectin in treating COVID-19 is controversial, with some studies suggesting potential benefits and others finding no significant effects 2, 3, 4.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis found that ivermectin may decrease mortality in patients with severe COVID-19, but the certainty of the evidence was low 2.
- Another study found that ivermectin prophylaxis increased the likelihood of preventing COVID-19, but the quality of evidence was low 2.
- A review of emerging evidence suggested that ivermectin exhibits antiviral and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, with trial results reporting significant outcome benefits 3.
- However, a systematic review of phase III clinical trials found that ivermectin did not reduce disease severity, need for mechanical ventilation, or in-hospital mortality compared to standard care or placebo 4.
Safety and Potential Use of Ivermectin
- The safety of oral ivermectin has been established, with serious adverse events rarely reported 2, 5.
- The Frontline COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) recommends the use of oral ivermectin for both prophylaxis and early-treatment of COVID-19, based on the available evidence 5.
- Further studies are needed to explore the efficacy and safety of ivermectin at low and high doses, following different dosing schedules, in both short and long-term treatment 5.
Comparison with Other Treatments
- Ivermectin, Chloroquine/Hydroxychloroquine, and Azithromycin have been proposed as potential treatments for COVID-19, but most phase III clinical trials have observed no treatment benefit in patients with COVID-19 4.
- The mechanisms of action of these drugs have been studied, but the results of clinical trials have not supported their use in treating COVID-19 4.