Doctor says ERs overwhelmed with people overdosing on livestock drug ivermectin to treat COVID-19
Ivermectin has long been used to kill parasites in animals and humans. But doses intended for livestock can be toxic.
A rural Oklahoma doctor says emergency rooms in the southeastern part of the state are overwhelmed with patients who ingested an antiparasitic drug intended for livestock to treat COVID-19, according to local KFOR.
Ivermectin has long been used to kill parasites in animals and humans, but more recently has gained popularity as a COVID-19 treatment despite unproven anti-viral benefits. The drug has not been approved to treat COVID-19.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently revealed it received several reports of people requiring hospitalization after self-medicating with ivermectin meant for animals. Ivermectin intended for livestock can be extremely dangerous as the drugs are often highly concentrated. Poison control centers have recorded a five-fold increase in calls related to ivermectin exposure.
Physician Jason McElyea told KFOR patients who took doses of ivermectin meant for a horse are filling up hospitals in eastern and southeastern Oklahoma.
“The ERs are so backed up that gunshot victims were having hard times getting to facilities where they can get definitive care and be treated,” McElyea told the outlet.
“All of their ambulances are stuck at the hospital waiting for a bed to open so they can take the patient in and they don’t have any, that’s it,” he said. “If there’s no ambulance to take the call, there’s no ambulance to come to the call.”
“Some people taking inappropriate doses have actually put themselves in worse conditions than if they’d caught COVID,” he said.
McElyea noted people in the rural area are familiar with ivermectin as many have used it on their livestock.
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Doctor says ERs overwhelmed with people overdosing on livestock drug ivermectin to treat COVID-19 https://t.co/hj0YzveaP3 pic.twitter.com/nezffgZ0HM
— The Hill (@thehill) September 3, 2021
Just what overloaded hospitals and overworked medical staff need — more patients trying to self-medicate with Ivermectin.
If it were up to me I wouldn’t admit them.
Not only has the data to support potential use of Ivermectin been exceptionally weak from small studies, but now 2 of the studies most cited have been shown to be fraudulent, one from Egypt and now this one from Argentinahttps://t.co/sSfhdB6SVs https://t.co/6XbTxOmovZ
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) September 3, 2021
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