Calls spike to Alberta poison hotline about ivermectin after anti-parasitic drug touted as COVID-19 treatment
CBC
Alberta's poison hotline has been getting a lot of calls from people who got sick after taking the drug ivermectin, which has been widely — and wrongly — touted as a treatment for COVID-19.
In an effort to remind people of the danger of misusing ivermectin, Dr. Mark Yarema, medical director of the AHS Poison and Drug Information Service (PADIS), posted Tuesday on Twitter several descriptions of such calls to the hotline.
"Children received COVID vax. Parent giving ivermectin afterwards to 'prevent negative reaction to the vaccine,'" said one call summary.
(Yarema clarified to CBC News that the children in this case were adults and that there have been no reports of children being given the drug.)
"Took ivermectin as COVID prophylaxis. Unknown amount ivermectin ingested. Currently has GI upset/vomiting, also drowsy," said another.
Ivermectin has been used in veterinary medicine for more than 30 years. It's predominantly used in livestock species like horses and cows to control intestinal parasites and some skin parasites.
The form of the drug used on humans is on the World Health Organization's list of essential medicines because it is safe, inexpensive and effective — and has proven to be life-saving for treating some illnesses caused by parasites.