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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOH, FDA do not recommend use of Ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment

DOH, FDA do not recommend use of Ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment

Published Apr 5, 2021 07:34 pm

Health authorities on Monday, April 5, said they do not recommend the use of the controversial drug Ivermectin for the treatment of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

“Based on the current evidence from randomized controlled trials, the DOH agrees with the COVID-19 Living CPG Reviewers and does not recommend the use of Ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19,” the Department of Health (DOH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a statement.

“Moreover, Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to the Philippines, has stated that there is no evidence that supports the use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19, even as a preventive measure,” they added.

Health officials noted that studies from the Philippine COVID-19 Living CPG Reviewers of randomized controlled trials showed that:

1.Ivermectin DID NOT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE the risk of mortality among patients with mild to severe COVID-19 cases;

2. Ivermectin was NOT ASSOCIATED with a definite benefit of other clinically important outcomes such as clinical improvement at Day 6-10, clinical deterioration, and need for mechanical ventilation;

3. Ivermectin DID NOT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE  the duration of hospitalization and the time to resolution of symptoms; and

4. The rate of hospitalization discharge DID NOT DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY between the Ivermectin group and the placebo group.

Meanwhile, the DOH and the FDA said they are open to allowing pharmacies for compounding Ivermectin.

“Moreover, we, the DOH and FDA, as well as Malacañan put the safety of Filipinos first before allowing unproven and uncertified medicines in the country,” they added.

The FDA has earlier warned against the use of Ivermectin as remedy for COVID-19 as the drug has no proven benefits against the dreaded disease.

FDA said that Ivermectin is currently registered as a prescription drug in topical formulation for the treatment of external parasites such as head lice and skin conditions in humans.

It added that the drug has also been approved as an oral and intravenous preparation for the prevention of heartworm disease and treatment of internal and external parasites in some animals. 

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