As a fourth wave of infections caused by COVID-19 sweeps the country, some of those who won’t get the vaccine are turning to an unproven treatment for the disease readily available over the counter in livestock stores and by prescription from some medical providers.
As some Americans turn to ivermectin, a cheap drug used to kill worms and others parasites in humans and animals, federal officials have seen a surge in prescriptions this summer, accompanied by worrying increases in reported overdoses.
At Franciscan St. Anthony Health in Michigan City and Chesterton, a handful of cases where ivermectin was in use have crept into the emergency room.
Dr. Erik Achramowicz, medical director of emergency medicine for Franciscan Health Michigan City and Chesterton, said he has seen four cases come through the emergency room in recent weeks. Three of those cases were people who had been taken ivermectin on a prescription from a nurse practitioner. One other patient had purchased the ivermectin they ingested at a farm.
There have been no cases so far in other Franciscan hospitals, according to a hospital spokesperson.
In each case, the individuals had been treating their COVID-19 symptoms with ivermectin for about a week before coming into the emergency room. Typically, people suffering from COVID-19 who wind up in the hospital come in around day nine or 10, he said.
“They had completed their course (of ivermectin) and were not any better. They actually got worse,” Achramowicz said.
“It’s just mind-boggling,” Achramowicz said. He said he cannot understand how someone would use a product for an animal that is unproven to treat or cure a disease like COVID-19 in humans over an approved vaccine that has been tested in humans and found effective.
“(People) need to stop politicizing your beliefs on this stuff if you are considering something completely off the deep end on what is clinically relevant. This is an example of that,” Achramowicz said.
The emergency room director said he hopes more people would opt for the vaccine.
“I see it every day. Every single day there’s a patient that comes in and says if I only knew it was like this, I would have gotten the vaccine. Every single day I see it,” Achramowicz said.
He said the one study where ivermectin was looked at for treating COVID-19 was in a laboratory setting in extremely high doses and not tested on animals or humans. Achramowicz said there is a hierarchy of what is legitimate research and what is the beginning of a study. He described the study on ivermectin use for COVID-19 at its “very beginning” and “low quality.” He said the study is nowhere near close enough to begin clinical applications in humans.
“As physicians and scientists, we really pride ourselves on randomized control trials and peer reviews. This is garbage. It’s not even close,” he said.
Achramowicz said fear of the pace the mRNA vaccines were rolled out is misplaced. The mRNA vaccines have been in development and testing for 20 years and were used to treat bird flu. The vaccines need to be altered to attack a new virus instead of recreated from scratch. mRNA-based vaccines currently are being studied to treat a variety of illnesses including malaria, tuberculosis and HIV.
“In the next 10 years you will really see mRNA vaccines ramp up. It’s a realistic possibility to have a malaria vaccine (in the future),” he said.
Equine veterinarian Dr. Kate Hodson, who owns Hodson Veterinary Services LLC in Hebron, shares Achramowicz’s bewilderment at people would turn to an unproven treatment, especially the variety intended for animals. She said she has only received one inquiry about ivermectin that she thought was related to using the product for treating COVID-19.
“I’ve only been asked by one older gentleman for heartworm preventative for his dog,” Hodson said. The request came earlier in the year when the drug was first promoted as a potential treatment and cure for COVID-19. Her clinic does not treat small animals and she was suspicious of the man’s intentions, ultimately telling him to reach out to a physician.
“My clients have been very respectful. They’ve not asked for it other than for their horses,” Hodson said.
Hodson said using an animal product as a human could be potentially dangerous. Ivermectin is an antiparasitic that can be prescribed to humans to treat things like lice. Animal products containing ivermectin can also contain other animal specific dewormers or fillers not intended for human consumption. The drug also is intended for single use. Prolonged use could lead to overdose.
“People are just looking for the word ‘ivermectin’ and don’t realize the other antiparasitics they could be ingesting. That’s definitely a danger to them,” Hodson said.
Taking a drug not approved for human consumption could result in a potential overdoes, cause neurological problems and organ damage. In the worst-case scenario, using a product like horse dewormer off label could result in death, she said.
Hodson said it would be difficult to determine an appropriate human dose from a product intended to treat a 1,000-pound animal. The smallest notch on the ivermectin paste horse dewormer is about 250 pounds.
So far, the equine vet said she has not seen issues with the supply chain that would be considered out of the ordinary. The availability of injectable ivermectin as typically off and on even prior to the pandemic, something she described as normal supply issues. There have not been any issues securing other ivermectin products.
“In our area I don’t think people are abusing it. As a professional in a veterinary industry, I appreciate everybody’s compliance,” Hodson said.
In a region like Northwest Indiana where the landscape is mixed from city, suburban to rural, products like ivermectin for horses are easy to find without a prescription. Local stores where ivermectin can be purchased without a prescription for equines and livestock say they have not seen any unu
Stores like Tractor Supply carry the product in its Northwest Indiana locations including Valparaiso, Hobart, St. John and DeMotte.
“The anti-parasite drug Ivermectin has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in treating or preventing COVID-19 in humans. The product sold in our stores is only suitable for animals and is clearly labeled as such,” a statement from Tractor Supply Co. said.
Pat Warner, company spokesperson, said beginning in August all of the Tractor Supply locations including those in Northwest Indiana, posted a sign on the entrance warning of the dangers and advising of the intended use. Ivermectin products for equines and livestock is available without a prescription.
At Bellstras Milling Co., in DeMotte, a store servicing local farmers and horse owners, manager Jenni Craig said there has not been any requests for ivermectin products other than those from their typical customers related to the care of their animals.
“It’s been sales as usual,” she said.
The manager at Crown Feed & Supply in Crown Point, which also carries ivermectin products, hung up when asked if he would respond to questions.