Self-prescribed Ivermectin use is associated with a lower rate of seroconversion in health care workers diagnosed with COVID, in a dose-dependent response

Pedroso, Célia; Vaz, Sara Nunes; Netto, Eduardo Martins; Souza, Daniele Costa Borges; Deminco, Felice; Mayoral, Rafaela; Menezes, Eliana Almeida de Miranda; Cunha, Ana Patricia Amancio da; Moreira-Soto, Andrés; Drexler, Jan Felix; Brites, Carlos

doi:10.1016/j.bjid.2021.101603

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The scenario of fear and anxiety imposed by the new coronavirus pandemic boosted a search for therapeutic and/or prophylactic pharmacological strategies, but the lack of a drug with proven efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 during the first year of the pandemic encouraged the population to use drugs still under evaluation for the virus 14 . However, it was found that abdominal pain, diarrhea, and taste alteration were more frequent among COVID-19 cases who received multiple doses of this drug 15 , and abdominal pain among those who received a single dose 16 . Furthermore, high doses of ivermectin have been associated with hypotension and neurological effects such as decreased consciousness, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, coma, and death 17 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Prevalence of Ivermectin use to prevent COVID-19 during the pandemic in Mato Grosso: cross-sectional home-based study

Silva

Rocha

Andrade

et al. 2023

Rev. bras. epidemiol.

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Objective: To analyze the use of ivermectin as COVID-19 prevention method by the population of Mato Grosso in 2020. Methods: This is a home-based survey, carried out between September and October 2020, in 10 pole cities of the socioeconomic regions of State. The use of ivermectin was evaluated through the question: “Did you take ivermectin to prevent COVID-19?”. Sociodemographic variables (sex, age group, education, family income), current work situation, being benefitted by government financial programs, as well as symptoms, seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, and previous diagnosis of COVID-19 were evaluated. Prevalence and their associations were estimated using the chi-square test. Results: 4.206 individuals were evaluated for prevalence of ivermectin use; 58.3% of the individuals responded positively, this rate being higher in the municipalities of the western region of the state (66.6%). There was no significant difference between sexes, but the prevalence was higher among people aged 50–59 years (69.7%), who were white (66.5%), with complete higher education or more (68.8%) and higher family income (≥3 minimum wages-64.2%). The use of this drug was even higher among participants who considered their knowledge of the disease good or very good (65.0%), who reported having symptoms of COVID-19 (75.3%), and who had been previously diagnosed with the disease (91.2%). Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of use of ivermectin as a method to prevent covid-19 by the population of Mato Grosso, indicating the need for strategies to inform the population about the risks of off-label use of drugs and to combat the advertising of drugs that are ineffective against COVID-19.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Prevalence of Ivermectin use to prevent COVID-19 during the pandemic in Mato Grosso: cross-sectional home-based study

Silva

Rocha

Andrade

et al. 2023

Rev. bras. epidemiol.

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“…20 SM with this compound could lead to ADRs such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, taste alterations, ataxia, orthostatic hypotension, increased transaminases, and vertigo. 21,22 Similarly, ASA has been proposed as a potential therapy in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection because of the associated risk of coagulopathy seen in some cases of COVID-19. Evidence remains variable: some studies demonstrate a reduced risk of severe COVID-19 with the use of ASA; 23 however, most studies show no effect on mortality.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…20 SM with this compound could lead to ADRs such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, taste alterations, ataxia, orthostatic hypotension, increased transaminases, and vertigo. 21,22…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prescription for COVID-19 by non-medical professionals during the pandemic in Colombia: a cross-sectional study

Niño-Orrego

Baracaldo-Santamaría

Ortíz

et al. 2022

Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the behavior of self-medication (SM). Given the massive release of misleading information during the pandemic, some pharmacies recommend drugs such as ivermectin, azithromycin, and hydroxychloroquine that are not useful for preventing or treating COVID-19 and could expose patients to unnecessary adverse drug reactions (ADRs), drug-drug interactions (DDIs), disease masking, and antibiotic resistance. Rationale: SM with drugs advertised for COVID-19 can have consequences, and people should be aware of approved uses, potential contraindications, and ADRs. Thus, the aim of this study was to know the drug therapies including natural products and homeopathic drugs offered by Colombian pharmaceutical establishments for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, as well as the information provided on the safe use of the product. Methods: An observational, cross-sectional mystery shopping study was carried out to determine the pharmaceutical alternatives for the management of COVID-19 offered by pharmaceutical establishments (drugstores, pharmacies, homeopathic pharmacies, and nutritional supplements stores) in Colombia, and information related to the safe use of the product. The study included 482 pharmaceutical establishments from 16 Colombian departments. Data collection was done through telephone calls to each of the establishments following an interview protocol pretending to be a patient who presents symptoms related to COVID-19. Results: About 57.3% (276) of the establishments recommended a product for the treatment of COVID-19 infection, 66.6% (321) asked whether the caller had COVID-19 symptoms and what they are, and 44.2% (213) suggested taking a COVID-19 test. Of 59 drugs suggested by pharmacies, the most recommended were azithromycin, ivermectin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and ASA (aspirin). From the establishments that recommended a product, dosage was indicated in 85.5% (236) of the pharmaceutical establishments and 14.5% (40) of the establishments reported the most common adverse effects of this substance. About 9.4% (26) of the establishments reported possible interactions of the recommended drugs and substances with food, beverages, or supplements.Conclusion: Pharmaceutical establishments in Colombia seem to have significantly contributed to self-medication for COVID-19 in Colombia during the pandemic. This behavior is inappropriate, since the mild forms of the disease do not have a specific treatment. Plain Language Summary Self-medication induced by pharmaceutical establishments in Colombia during the COVID-19 pandemic Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the behavior of self-medication (SM). Given the massive release of misleading information during the pandemic, some pharmacies recommend drugs such as ivermectin, azithromycin, hydroxychloroquine among others, which are not useful for preventing or treating COVID-19 and could expose patients to unnecessary side effects and interactions with other medications. People should be aware of the approved and non-approved uses, and potential side effects of these drugs. Rationale: The aim of this study was to know the drugs, including natural products and homeopathic drugs, offered by Colombian pharmaceutical establishments for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, as well as the information provided on the safe use of the product. Methods: The study was done using the mystery shopping method, collecting data through telephone calls to each of the establishments by a trained individual pretending to be a patient with COVID-19 symptoms. The study included 482 pharmaceutical establishments from 16 Colombian departments. Results: Of 59 drugs suggested by pharmacies, the most recommended were azithromycin, ivermectin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin. The recommended dose was indicated in 85.5% (236) of the pharmaceutical establishments, and 14.5% (40) of them reported the most common adverse effects of the recommended product. About 9.4% (26) of the establishments reported possible interactions of the recommended drugs and substances with food, beverages, or supplements. Conclusion: The majority of the pharmaceutical establishments included in the study promoted inadequate self-medication for COVID-19 in Colombia during the pandemic.

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“…When analyzing the group that took ivermectin, they found that there were no statistically significant differences in clinical severity; however, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and taste alterations were more frequent in those who received multiple doses of this drug. 54 …”

Section: Drug Used For Self-medication In Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

Drug safety of frequently used drugs and substances for self-medication in COVID-19

Baracaldo-Santamaría

Pabón-Londoño

Rojas-Rodriguez

2022

Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, the behavior of self-medication has increased. The dissemination of misleading information regarding the efficacy of certain drugs or substances for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 has been the major contributing factor for this phenomenon. Alongside with the increase in self-medication behavior, the inherent risks to this act such as drug–drug interactions, adverse events, drug toxicity, and masking of symptoms have also increased. Self-medication in the context of COVID-19 has led to drug misuse leading in some cases to the development of fatal adverse drug reactions. It is important that during this ongoing pandemic drugs with potential clinical efficacy against COVID-19 are adequately analyzed regarding their efficacy, safety, and monitoring. The aim of this review is to describe the available evidence regarding the efficacy, safety, and monitoring of the drugs and substances that have been shown to be frequently used for self-medication in patients with COVID-19 (hydroxychloroquine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, ivermectin, azithromycin, vitamins, aspirin, and chlorine dioxide) to adequately characterize their risks, safe use, monitoring strategies, and to reinforce the concept that these substances should not be used for self-medication and require a medical prescription. Plain Language Summary Drug safety of frequently used drugs and substances for self-medication in COVID-19 Dissemination of information about potential COVID-19 treatments has led individuals to self-medicate and expose themselves to risks such as drug–drug interactions, side effects, antibiotic resistance, and misdiagnosis. There is a need to review the medical literature to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the drugs and substances commonly used by the population for the treatment and prevention of SARS CoV-2 infection. In this review, we included drugs that are frequently used for self-medication and commonly advertised such as ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, chlorine dioxide, azithromycin, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, among others. A brief introduction of the drug and its mechanism of action, followed by a summary of the efficacy in COVID-19 and safety, will be described for each drug in order to promote their responsible use.

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Self-prescribed Ivermectin use is associated with a lower rate of seroconversion in health care workers diagnosed with COVID, in a dose-dependent response

Cited by 7 publications

References 16 publications

Prevalence of Ivermectin use to prevent COVID-19 during the pandemic in Mato Grosso: cross-sectional home-based study

Prevalence of Ivermectin use to prevent COVID-19 during the pandemic in Mato Grosso: cross-sectional home-based study

Prescription for COVID-19 by non-medical professionals during the pandemic in Colombia: a cross-sectional study

Drug safety of frequently used drugs and substances for self-medication in COVID-19

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