The Department of Health reiterated its call against the use of ivermectin to treat or prevent the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), saying it “doesn’t give you any benefit at all,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a media briefing on Monday, August 23.

“Itong gamot na ito (ivermectin), nagpakita na ng ebidensya, doesn’t give you any benefit at all in preventing, shortening the duration of your hospitalization, or preventing the progression of your disease when you have COVID-19,” Vergeire said.

“Itong gamot na ito ay may mga side effects din na maaaring maging harmful sa inyong katawan,” the health official added.

This comes after the United States’ Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) tweeted on Saturday, “You are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously, y’all. Stop it,” they wrote.

You are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously, y'all. Stop it. https://t.co/TWb75xYEY4

— U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) August 21, 2021

The US FDA has advised people to avoid taking any medicines intended to treat animals and only take ivermectin as prescribed by their physician since the ivermectin has not been approved yet and is not an antiviral medication to treat COVID-19.

“Taking a drug for an unapproved use can be very dangerous. This is true of ivermectin, too,” US FDA added.

Also, the US FDA gives emphasis that ivermectin products for animals are different from ivermectin products for people.

Moreover, the FDA reviews drugs to ensure that patients get the exact amount of active and inactive ingredients to treat any infections and diseases effectively and safely.

Watch DOH Beat COVID-19 Media Forum here:

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialDOHgov/videos/204322341721156

Source: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/why-you-should-not-use-ivermectin-treat-or-prevent-covid-19