Ivermectin does not reduce risk of COVID hospitalization, Brazilian study claims

A new study released on March 30th, 2022 found that the drug ivermectin does not lower COVID-related hospitalizations when taken by patients.

The study included 3515 patients who were each randomly assigned to consume either ivermectin (679 patients), placebo (679), or another intervention (2157). It concluded that “there were no significant effects of ivermectin use on secondary outcomes or adverse events.”

Essentially, the researchers said it did not matter whether or not you took ivermectin if you had COVID.nThis study ran contrary to some previous studies, such as an American Journal of Therapeutics study and a Pharmacological Reports study that concluded ivermectin did reduce deaths.

However, the Brazilian study was much larger than any of these other studies which meant its statistical certainty was much greater.

Ivermectin has found itself in the news many times since COVID began because of its widespread use as an “alternative” treatment for said disease. One notable example being podcast star Joe Rogan.

It has been approved for many different treatments by the World Health Organization, the Food and Drug Administration, and the European Union. For example, the FDA has approved its use for parasitic worms, head lice, and skin conditions like rosacea. However, none of those organizations have approved its use to treat COVID. 

Doses of 0.2–0.4 mg/kg have been found to be extremely safe for human use. However, there is an increased chance for individuals to accidentally overdose if they use a highly concentrated version of the drug, (such versions are usually used on large mammals).

The more institutionally-aligned viewpoint is that the public should not be taking any drugs to combat COVID that have not been specifically approved for use against COVID and that they should instead just do what is recommended.

Publications such as the New York Times and CNN, have often associated ivermectin with its use on livestock, possibly as a method to reduce its credibility.

Whereas people with the opposite viewpoint bring up ivermectin’s current positive uses, possible anti-viral properties, affordability, and that it should be their right to medicate themselves anyway.