December 16, 2020

COVID-19 Update: Ivermectin

Background: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous therapeutic agents have been repurposed and applied empirically and within clinical trials. Prophylactic medications for COVID-19 could have a huge benefit, but studies to date haven’t panned out. Initially many therapeutic medications were used late in illness, and one of the criticisms of these negative studies was that the drugs were applied too late in the disease and therefore did not show any benefit. There were also numerous studies showing associations of benefit, but subsequent randomized clinical trials have failed to prove effectiveness in reducing mortality (i.e. Remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir, convalescent plasma, monoclonal antibody therapy). Ivermectin is an interesting medication that had fallen off my radar until recently.  It is an anti-parasitic medication, with potential anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory properties against SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. In this post we will review some of the current evidence in using Ivermectin as a prophylactic and therapeutic agent in COVID-19....Read More