SPARTA, Wis. (WXOW) – The Monroe County Health Department joins other health organizations in warning against the use of Ivermectin in treating or preventing COVID-19.
They issued a release citing the potential dangers of using the drug incorrectly. They hope to help educate the public on the proper use of the drug.
There’s recently been a spike in the number of cases at poison control centers nationwide of either overdoses or adverse effects from people who have taken the drug.
There have been no instances of overdoses or adverse effects in the county to date according to the health department.
The release said the FDA has not approved or issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for treating COVID-19. The National Institutes of Health also said there’s “insufficient data to recommend Ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment at this time.”
It does state that the drug is approved for use in treating some people with certain skin conditions or some parasitic worms.
From the statement:
“People should not take any form of Ivermectin unless it has been prescribed to them by a licensed health
care provider and is obtained through a legitimate source. It is unsafe to take large doses of Ivermectin
and doing so can cause serious harm to your health. Do not swallow Ivermectin products that should be
used on skin such as lotions or creams.”Monroe County Health Department
The drug is also used for treating animals. health department also cautioned that the forms used for animals are different than the ones approved for human use. They can be much more concentrated since they’re for use with large animals.
The release provides the number for the poison control hotline – 1-800-222-1222 – for anyone who has taken Ivermectin and is having adverse symptoms. Those include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, blurred vision, dizziness, fast heart rate, and low blood pressure. Other severe symptoms have been reported, including tremors, seizures, hallucinations, confusion, loss of coordination and balance, decreased alertness, and coma.
Instead, the health department said the safest way to prevent getting seriously ill or dying from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. They also recommend wearing a face covering, social distancing, and frequent hand washing.
The Monroe County Health Department offers free walk-in appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations at their office at 315 W. Oak St. in Sparta during business hours Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. No insurance is required. Pre-registration is preferred. To do so, you can go to vaccinate.wi.gov or call the health department at 608-269-8666 during business hours.
For vaccination information and resources, click here.
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