Ivermectin Won the 2015 Nobel Prize for Parasites, Not COVID

Ivermectin did receive a Nobel Prize in 2015, but the recognition was given for the treatment of disease-causing parasites such as malaria, not for COVID-19. Ivermectin can be used in humans, but that doesn’t mean it’s a safe treatment option for COVID-19. That’s because health agencies have not approved it as a treatment for COVID-19. 

Two weeks ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health advisory that warned of severe and adverse reactions to taking ivermectin. Individuals who self-medicate with ivermectin could become severely ill, contracting side effects like nausea, diarrhea, and low blood pressure, the advisory says. Overdosing can lead to even more serious conditions like comas and seizures or even death.

“Be aware that currently, ivermectin has not been proven as a way to prevent or treat COVID-19,” the CDC advisory warns.

In the past, the Food and Drug Administration has approved ivermectin as a treatment for some human conditions, such as head lice. Ivermectin generally is used to treat parasitic infections — both in humans and in animals. The FDA at the end of August strongly suggested that ivermectin is a drug typically given to livestock, warning humans to avoid taking it. 

At the time, it’s far from a proven treatment for COVID-19. Groups such as the National Institutes of Health and the University of Oxford, however, are conducting research to determine whether ivermectin could alleviate COVID-19.

There’s a lot of commotion over ivermectin, partially due to amplification from high-profile individuals who’ve baselessly touted it as a cure for COVID-19. 

Media outlets have been issuing warnings attributed to health officials to avoid taking the drug for COVID-19. It’s a drug with a specific purpose that’s risky to use to treat COVID-19, health officials say.