What is Ivermectin, the drug Goa will give to all adults to combat Covid-19 - India Today

Despite a raging debate on the efficacy of Ivermectin in treating Covid-19, Goa has decided to administer the anti-parasitic drug to everyone above 18 years in the state, irrespective of symptoms.

While the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned against the general, unchecked use of Ivermectin, a study published in the American Journal of Therapeutics has said that regular use of the drug may significantly reduce the risk of contracting Covid-19.

So, should you take Ivermectin? What has the Health Ministry said? What have researchers found about its efficacy? Here is all you need to know about Ivermectin.

- What is Ivermectin?

- What does the Health Ministry say on Ivermectin's usage?

- Why has Goa prescribed Ivermectin for all adults?

- What have WHO, other countries said on Ivermectin usage for Covid-19?

- What have other researchers found on Ivermectin?

- What are the side effects of Ivermectin?

What is Ivermectin?

Ivermectin is an oral drug used to treat parasitic infections. The drug has been in use since the 1980s and is mainly used in creams and lotions for head lice. Ivermectin in tablet form has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat intestinal strongyloidiasis and onchocerciasis (river blindness). It is also used to treat scabies. However, the FDA has not approved Ivermectin for Covid-19 treatment.

What does the Health Ministry say on its usage?

In its revised guidelines for home isolation of mild and asymptomatic Covid-19 cases, the Health Ministry suggested use of Ivermectin tablets (200 mcg/kg once a day, to be taken on an empty stomach) for 3 to 5 days if fever is not controlled.

Addressing a press conference, AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria said, "People with mild illness need no medicine. Based on limited data, one can take Ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine but there is no need to take too many medicines."

Why has Goa prescribed Ivermectin for all adults?

With vaccination program for the 18-44 age group yet to take off in Goa, the government has decided to give Ivermectin to all above 18 years to bring down mortality. Health minister Vishwajit Rane said Ivermectin 12 mg would be given to those above 18 years for five days.

"However, this does not prevent Covid-19 infection but helps in reducing the severity of the disease and at the same time one should not have a false sense of security and complacency," Vishwajit Rane tweeted.

Patients will be treated with Ivermectin 12mg for a period of 5 days. Expert panels from the UK, Italy, Spain and Japan, found a large, statistically significant reduction in mortality, time to recovery and viral clearance in Covid-19 patients treated with Ivermectin. (2/4)

— VishwajitRane (@visrane) May 10, 2021

"There have been studies in journals of therapeutics. Studies in the US, UK, Japan, Germany have shown that when this (Ivermectin) is administered in advance, when the entire population is administered this treatment, their mortality rate fell and effects of Covid-19 on that individual were also less," he said.

However, some experts have demanded a tweak in the protocol. Dr Vinayak Buvaji, who heads the Goa chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), told PTI that giving the tablets only for five days would not be impactful.

"The ideal regimen of Ivermectin is to administer it on the first, third and seventh day and then continue it once a week till the pandemic is brought under control," Dr Buvaji said. "People weighing below 60 kg should be given the 12 mg dose of Ivermectin while those above 60 kg should be given the 18 mg dose," he said.

What have WHO, other countries said on Ivermectin usage for Covid-19?

Dr Soumya Swaminathan, the chief scientist of WHO, has warned against the general use of Ivermectin. "Safety and efficacy are important when using any drug for a new indication. WHO recommends against the use of Ivermectin for Covid-19 except within clinical trials," Dr Swaminathan tweeted. WHO's review is based on a survey of 16 trials of Ivermectin involving 2,400 people.

Safety and efficacy are important when using any drug for a new indication. @WHO recommends against the use of ivermectin for #COVID19 except within clinical trials https://t.co/dSbDiW5tCW

— Soumya Swaminathan (@doctorsoumya) May 10, 2021

In February, German healthcare giant Merck, an Ivermectin manufacturer, also said its analysis did not find evidence showing the drug's efficacy against Covid-19.

"To date, our analysis has identified: no scientific basis for a potential therapeutic effect against Covid-19 from pre-clinical studies; no meaningful evidence for clinical activity or efficacy in patients with Covid-19 disease, and a concerning lack of safety data in the majority of studies," Merck said in a statement.

The European Medicines Agency has also warned against using Ivermectin to treat Covid-19 patients.

What have other researchers found on Ivermectin?

A comprehensive research, published in the May-June issue of the American Journal of Therapeutics, found that "regular use of Ivermectin might significantly reduce the risk of contracting Covid-19".

The researchers found large, statistically significant reduction in mortality, recovery time, and viral clearance in Covid-19 patients treated with Ivermectin. For the study, 2,500 patients were analysed.

What are the side effects of Ivermectin?

According to the US FDA, some of the side effects that may be associated with Ivermectin include skin rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, facial or limb swelling, neurologic adverse events (dizziness, seizures, confusion), sudden drop in blood pressure, severe skin rash potentially requiring hospitalisation and liver injury (hepatitis).

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