Two people are dead after ingesting horse dewormer, ivermectin, to treat COVID-19 despite health officials warning against it.
On Wednesday, New Mexico health officials reported two deaths among 14 patients hospitalized recently for taking ivermectin. The drug is used to treat worms in horses and other livestock. However, many people have promoted the medicine as a remedy for COVID-19, including podcast host Joe Rogan and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
The deceased, who have not been identified publicly, were 38 and 79 years old. Both patients had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and opted to self-medicate with ivermectin to treat their conditions. The drug caused kidney failure in at least one of them.
“It’s the wrong medicine for something really serious,” said David Scrase, the acting head of the New Mexico health department.
While the Food and Drug Administration has previously approved the use of ivermectin for humans in tiny doses to treat intestinal parasites, it is not intended to cure viruses or be taken in large quantities. However, that has not stopped many from purchasing the version meant for animals.
The FDA is once again reminding people that ivermectin is usually highly concentrated to treat large animals. High doses can be “highly toxic to humans,” leading to serious illness or death. In August, the agency took to Twitter to remind people that they are “not a horse” and not take the lethal drug.
https://twitter.com/US_FDA/status/1429050070243192839
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