Ivermectin
Description
Ivermectin is an anti-infective which is used to treat certain worm infections in the intestine, skin and eyes. This medicine works by killing the worms.
Ivermectin may cause side effects like nausea, dizziness, weakness, sleepiness, etc. These side effects are mild and may subside by themselves. Consult your doctor if they bother you for a longer time or worsen. Avoid driving or operating machines if you experience dizziness.
Ivermectin should be taken on an empty stomach. Take it in the dose and duration prescribed by your doctor. Do not take more than the recommended dose. Your doctor may advise stool and blood tests after taking the medication to see if you have gotten rid of the infection.
Ivermectin is not recommended if you are allergic to it. It is not recommended in children with a body weight of less than 15 kg as the safety and efficacy data for use are not available. Inform your doctor if you have any health problems including all the medicines you use. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Ivermectin
- Fever
- Skin rash
- Muscle pain
- Increased heartbeat
- Headache
- Swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
- Diarrhoea
- Dizziness
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Weakness
- Sleepiness
Uses of Ivermectin
What is it prescribed for?
- Onchocerciasis
- Strongyloidiasis
- Scabies
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe onset time of action for Ivermectin is not clinically established.
- Duration of effectThe duration of action for Ivermectin is not clinically established.
- Safe with alcohol?Avoid consuming alcohol while you are on treatment with Ivermectin. Inform your doctor if you experience any symptoms of a fast heartbeat, warmth, headache, and breathing difficulty.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendency has been reported for Ivermectin.
- Usage in pregnancy?Ivermectin is not recommeded during pregnancy as its safety and efficacy are not completely established for pregnant women.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Ivermectin is not known to be harmful in breastfeeding women. However topical forms of this medicine should be applied carefully around the breast. Application to the nipple may increase the risk of diarrhoea in the infant. Consult your doctor before using this medicine.
Allergy
Avoid taking Ivermectin if you are allergic to it. Serious allergic reactions to this medicine are rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Ivermectin is not recommeded during pregnancy as its safety and efficacy are not completely established for pregnant women.
Breast-feeding
Ivermectin is not known to be harmful in breastfeeding women. However topical forms of this medicine should be applied carefully around the breast. Application to the nipple may increase the risk of diarrhoea in the infant. Consult your doctor before using this medicine.
General warnings
Mazzotti reaction
Mazzotti reaction is a very rare allergy that affects skin and blood. Long-term use of Ivermectin may sometimes lead to a Mazzotti reaction. Inform your doctor if you experience symptoms like low blood pressure, fever, abdominal pain, etc.
Use in children
It is not recommended to use Ivermectin for children with a body weight of less than 15 kg for scabies (skin disorder).
It is also not recommended for use in children below 5 years of age for Onchocerciasis (affects vision) and in children below 12 years of age for Strongyloidiasis (abdominal pain, low blood count caused due to worms) as the safety and efficacy data for use is not available.
Driving and operating machines
The side effects such as dizziness, tremor, etc may affect the ability to drive and operate machines. Hence, avoid tasks that need high mental alertness if you experience dizziness.
Missed Dose
Oral: Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it’s time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed dose.
Topical: Apply the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it’s time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed dose.
Overdose
Oral: Seek emergency medical treatment or contact your doctor in case of an overdose.
Topical: Seek emergency medical treatment or contact your doctor in case of an overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
N/A
Instructions
Avoid consuming alcohol while you are on treatment with Ivermectin. Inform your doctor if you experience any symptoms of a fast heartbeat, warmth, headache, and breathing difficulty.
Interaction with Medicine
Oxcarbazepine
Warfarin
Disease interactions
Disease
Information not available.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Oral: Take Ivermectin on an empty stomach. Do not take in larger amounts than prescribed. Consult the doctor if you experience any undesirable effects. Do not stop taking the medicine without consulting your doctor. Drink an adequate amount of water in order to reduce the risk of kidney damage.
Topical: Apply the topical form of Ivermectin following all information on the leaflet provided. You should wash your hands before and after applying the medication. Ensure that the amount you applied is appropriate.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Ivermectin works by binding to the muscle and nerve cells of worms causing paralysis of the parasite. Due to inactive function, the parasite dies and the infection is treated.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Anthelmintics
Schedule
OTC
Mri.cts-mrp.eu. 2021. [online] Available at: [Accessed 19 October 2021].
Drugs, H., 2021. Ivermectin: MedlinePlus Drug Information. [online] Medlineplus.gov. Available at: [Accessed 19 October 2021].
Accessdata.fda.gov. 2021. [online] Available at: [Accessed 19 October 2021].
Information on this page was last updated on 7 Feb 2023
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.