What is Ivermectin?
Ivermectin is one of the drugs that come under the anti-parasitic range in pharmacology. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of parasites such as hookworms and whipworms. These worms can cause a variety of symptoms and diseases amongst their host. Some examples of these diseases include onchocerciasis and intestinal strongyloidiasis.
Ivermectin has lately been the center of a lot of conversation concerning its role in COVID-19 infection. The facts of this conversation revolve around the use of Ivermectin as a treatment modality for COVID-19. It is important to mention that the World Health Organization (WHO) does not approve the dose of Ivermectin for prevention or treatment of COVID-19. In fact, it is only approved for trials at this moment. Even though this information is commonplace, the cases of Ivermectin abuse have been on a steady incline according to the CDC. According to CDC, people have been using veterinary Ivermectin as a preventative measure for COVID-19.
How does it work?
The mechanism of action of Ivermectin is simple and directed at the helminth’s (parasite) nervous system. Their nervous system consists of glutamate-gated chloride channels that transmit their nervous impulses, this is a common trait amongst the nerve and muscle cells of invertebrates. The drug causes permanent opening of these chloride channels which causes an ionic imbalance in these cells. As a result, the cell membrane undergoes hyperpolarisation which causes the paralysis of the impacted tissues. This paralysis includes respiratory muscles which eventually leads to the cessation of respiration and then death occurs. This mechanism of action is exclusive to the invertebrates because in humans, the glutamate-gated chloride channels are present in a limited area, namely the spinal cord and brain. A special property of Ivermectin is that it cannot pass through the Blood brain barrier because of its solubility. Therefore, the effect of this drug is limited to the helminths.
How is it taken?
There are three conventional routes that are used in Ivermectin administration, namely through the mouth/oral, through the blood stream/intravenous, or through the skin/topical. A specific glycoprotein called p-glycoprotein is what largely stops Ivermectin from crossing the blood brain barrier of mammals. However, it is important to note that high doses of Ivermectin may cause the crossing to become substantial. Theses doses reach peak level in the brain after 2–5 hours of administration.
Certain factors during the administration of the drug dictate its efficacy. These factors include taking the drug at least an hour before a meal, taking the medicine with a glass of water. Ivermectin is usually effective after a single dose, however, patients with weaker immune systems might need multiple doses to benefit from the same efficacy.
The drug’ efficacy can be tested by frequent stool sampling which will tell if the helminth population inside the body has decreased or not
Where ca you buy Ivermectin?
You can buy Ivermectin online at RUPharma.com with delivery to the US, Canada and Europe.
What are side effects and contraindications?
A point of emphasis in the discussion of Ivermectin’s side effect should be that they very rarely occur if the patient is being administered the right dosage. Side effects tend to vary according to the mode of administration:
When used orally, patients might suffer from fever, itching and skin rashes, when used topically patients can suffer from red eyes, burning skin and dry skin.
A group of people that are known to suffer greatly from the side effects of ivermectin are those who are being treated for Loa Loa worm infestation. If the burden of Loa Loa worms is high in the blood stream of the individual being treated, their capillaries might be at the risk of blockages due to inflammation caused by the rapid death of the worms.
Of course, it goes without saying that patients who are administered higher than the recommended dosage will also suffer from severe side effects as a result of neurotoxicity. In this case, the side effects take place in the form of CNS depression which results in ataxia, coma, and progress to death sometimes. This is due to the mechanism of action of the drug on glutamate-gated chloride ion channels.
A known drug interaction of ivermectin includes drugs that inhibit CYP3A4. Such drugs cause the increased absorption of ivermectin through the blood-brain barrier. Some examples of these drugs include HIV protease inhibitors, statins (cholesterol medication), some calcium channel blockers (hypertension medication), benzodiazepine (antiseizure medication), lidocaine(local anaesthetic), glucocorticoids and dexamethasone(asthma medication).
Another side effect of Ivermectin treatment can cause elevation in certain liver enzymes, however, most of the time this is clinically insignificant.
Ivermectin has a few contraindications because of the nature of its toxicity. It is not to be administered to any children under the age of five or to anyone weighing less than 33 pounds. Furthermore, it is not to be administered to any individuals with chronic liver or kidney diseases. Additionally, ivermectin is known to be secreted through breast milk in small quantities therefore its safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding is also questionable.
How is Ivermectin used in veterinary medicine?
Ivermectin has a large scope in veterinary medicine. It serves almost the same purpose in animals as it does human- treating parasite infestations, usually worms. These worms enter the animal’s system whilst grazing and lay eggs in the animals’ intestines, these eggs are then passed out through the animals dropping into other pastures where the cycle reoccurs.
Ivermectin is specifically used for prevention of heart worms in dogs, however some breeds of dogs namely, collies and sheep dogs, suffer from severe toxic side effects of Ivermectin. Kittens are also known to suffer from the same toxicity even though the use in kittens is only topical (for ear mites).
What is the relation between Ivermectin and COVID-19?
As previously mentioned in this article, Ivermectin has shown a positive treatment efficacy when it comes to producing an antiviral effect against COVID-19. However, a very high dosage is needed in order to achieve substantial antiviral results. As mentioned above, high dosages of Ivermectin can lead to neurotoxicity and alteration of host cell processes.
Furthermore, this is a budding treatment modality for COVID-19 which is why it has not yet been subjected to a competent quantity and quality of studies for safe use on humans. In fact, some studies have been of such poor quality that they have been retracted. As a result, doctors have been warned against using Ivermectin as any form preventative or therapeutic treatment.
