Alpro Pharmacy has been monitoring recent discussions in Malaysia on the potential use of the anti-parasitic drug ‘Ivermectin’ in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
“In Malaysia, no human usage of Ivermectin is currently approved or registered. All licensed Ivermectin-containing medications are only for animal usage. Its use on the human body may have detrimental consequences because the dosage for animals and humans differ greatly,” said Lim En Ni, Chief Pharmacist of Alpro Pharmacy in a statement.
Alpro, Malaysia’s largest prescription pharmacy chain recognises the absolute requirement of cautioning the public against any type of self-medication and self-dosing with Ivermectin.
In this scenario, self-medicated Ivermectin may result in major health issues including overdose. Allergic reactions, dizziness, convulsions, coma, and even death are all possible side effects.
Misinformation about this topic is also spreading on online public forums and social media platforms, which is concerning. We highly advise the public to always seek information about COVID-19 therapies, Ivermectin, or any other pharmaceuticals or drugs from reputable sources like the Malaysian Ministry of Health (MOH) or the World Health Organisation (WHO).
According to the statement dated 23rd June 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved Ivermectin for treating or preventing COVID-19 in humans, and the WHO only recommends using Ivermectin in clinical trial settings where patients are closely monitored for safety and efficacy by experienced clinicians and researchers.
“MOH and the Institute for Clinical Research are still clinically evaluating Ivermectin’s efficacy in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 replication in COVID-19 patients (ICR). The findings of these clinical trials are expected in September,” she added.
Alpro advises the public to seek the expert guidance of a pharmacist or a medical practitioner for any use of unusual medication.
