What is Ivermectin?
Ivermectin is originally a veterinary treatment drug for animal parasites that appeared in the late-1970s. It can kill a wide variety of internal and external parasites in commercial livestock and companion animals. Today, It is used to treat a variety of internal nematode infections, including Onchocerciasis (Ivermectin is used for avoidance, treatment, and control of river blindness ), Strongyloidiasis (which infects some 35 million each year), Ascariasis, filariasis, threadworm, Gnathostomiasis, and Trichuriasis, as well as for oral treatment of ectoparasitic infections, such as Pediculosis (lice infestation, noticeably reduced in children taking ivermectin tablets) and scabies (mite infestation which causes 300 million cases annually); not only that but new and promising properties and uses for ivermectin cream are continuing to be found.
What are the brand names for ivermectin?
Ivermectin is a prescription drug. It comes as an oral tablet, topical cream, and topical lotion. It is traded under the brand names:
Heartgard, avermectin, Stromectol, Scavista, Ivermectin cream, Ivomec, and Scabo…
Treatment of scabies with oral ivermectin:
Oral ivermectin is an effective and Inexpensive substitute to topical creams in the treatment of scabies infection (it’s an itchy skin condition caused by infestation with small mites “Sarcoptes scabiei” that live under the skin). If topical treatment fails, or if the patient has HIV immunocompromised. also if the doctor observes resistance to topical treatments, in such cases Stromectol will be an effective treatment for scabies even in the advanced state called crusted scabies (Norwegian scabies). Oral dosing is also an easier remedy, in a lot of cases, like if scabies spreading in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes, or for people with mental illnesses or disabilities. It is easy to use compared to topical permethrin creams; Stromectol has been used extensively and securely in the treatment of another parasitic.
What other parasites does ivermectin kill?
- Lice: Ivermectin lotion 5% is FDA-approved for patients six months aged and older.
- Malaria-bearing mosquitos ivomec used also as a treatment and prevention for nematode infestation
- Bedbugs: Stromectol can furthermore kill bedbugs,
Is it better than other drugs?
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Permethrin vs. Ivermectin?
If we talk about scabies treatment we must mention the 2 most commonly used treatments for scabies which are:
Oral Stromectol (a macrocyclic lactone antibiotic with broad-spectrum activity against nematodes and arthropods). Plus topical permethrin 5% (a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide); and each of them has its own advantages.
Some published scientific experiments and study’s compared these two drugs:
Oral ivermectin 200 mcg per kg (micrograms per kilogram of body weight), with topical 5% permethrin. The conclusion was that a single dose of ivermectin is slightly less effective than a single dose of permethrin. And they as well prove that permethrin-treated patients recovered earlier than the others.
But Mass treatment with oral ivermectin has proven to be more effective in treating scabies in refugee camps, and in Institutions such as prisons, nursing homes, for ease of use in these populations.
We should also mention, that immunocompromised patients with crusted scabies have terribly high parasite loads and conjointly might have the benefit of oral treatment.
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Oral ivermectin vs. topical 10% benzyl benzoate
This comparison goes in favor of oral Stromectol because it is more effective in treating scabies than topical 10 percent benzyl benzoate.
How did it work?
Ivermectin oral tablet as antiscabietic treatment works by binding to parts inside the mites. Sooner or later it will paralyze and kills scabies, it also prevents parasites from reproducing new larvae.
Most of the patients (70%) report that they feel great change just in 1 month of treatment; particularly, this medicine reduced the rash, which in numerous patients occurred less than 48 hours after treatment.
Is ivermectin safe?
Ivermectin cream may be a simple, cheap, safe oral therapy for scabies rash with an excellent safety record; Although, ivermectin scabies is not FDA-approved (Food and Drug Administration). There are concerns regarding its use in young children weighing less than 15 kg and pregnant women; because there may be more drug penetrance of the immature blood-brain barrier.
Still, it is an effective treatment for scabies in otherwise healthy patients, and in many patients with Human immunodeficiency virus infection.
On the other hand, in recent years it has gained approval in France, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, and the Netherlands; And more, in countries such as India, oral ivermectin is easy to access and cheaper than permethrin, making it an attractive option.
Contraindications:
Ivermectin cream is contraindicated in the following cases:
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Or if you have liver or kidney disease.
- Finally, if you are a child under 5 years, or under 15 Kg or 33 pounds.
Ivermectin dosage:
How to use ivermectin? There are two cases, depending on the medical condition that made you take this medicine:
For standard scabies, the connoisseurs recommend taking it with a meal (to intensify bioavailability); even if the guidelines acclaim to take it on an empty stomach; take 2 of Ivermectin dosage each almost one week apart.
For crusted scabies, Avermectin will not be effective alone; unless you use it with a topical skin cream, depending on the severity of the condition.
What special precautions should I follow?
Before taking ivermectin,
- You should tell your doctor if you’re allergic to certain medications
- If you’re using another treatment, you must tell your doctor; therefore, your doctor could change your doses or change your treatment.
- Have you ever suffered from manganite or human immunodeficiency virus HIV? You need to mention it to your doctor.
- If you’re pregnant, or you’re planning to become pregnant (Research in animals has revealed adverse effects to the fetus when the mother takes the drug); or breastfeeding (Ivermectin passes into breast milk and possibly will cause side effects in a child who is breastfed), don’t use this Treatment till you consult a doctor.
- There aren’t enough studies to confirm, the effectiveness and safety of this drug for children weighing less than 33 pounds (15 kg)
What are the side effects of ivermectin in humans?
Most medications have side effects, and Stromectol is not an exception. These are some ivermectin side effects:
- vertigo
- loss of desire to eat, Anorexia
- sickness
- unsettled stomach
- stomach pain or ballooning
- Acute diarrhea
- chest discomfort
- constipation
- feebleness
- sleepiness
- uncontrollable tremor
Ivermectin for COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
Australian researchers have started testing head lice and scabies drug “Ivermectin“, as a possible treatment for COVID-19; and it has been shown that there are promising results in laboratory studies.
Disclaimer:
Our goal is to provide you with useful information; however, this information is not a substitute for medical advice. If you have scabies, or you’re suspecting having it; we recommend that you do the required tests as soon as possible since it is an infectious disease.
Besides, for side effects, this article does not contain all of them; simply, because each patient is affected by the drug differently depending on his or her health condition.
