As the pandemic continues to spread in reach, some unvaccinated personnel have begun looking for ways to protect themselves via self-medication.
But here’s the thing; is it truly self-medication at work…
Or is it merely a case of a myth rearing its large, ugly fangs?
Some S’poreans Are Buying Drugs Online To ‘Self-Medicate’ Against COVID-19
You may have heard of ivermectin. But if you haven’t, here’s a rough summary of the drug:
It’s utilised to treat parasite infestations in humans, but can also be used to treat animals in larger quantities.
For the record, the “animals” in question include horses.
Yeah, it doesn’t sound like the best self-prescriptive drug out there, if you get the gist.
And yet despite this spine-chilling revelation in tow, some Singaporeans are mass-ordering ivermectin on the basis that it supposedly cures Covid-19.
In fact, a particular Mr Tan here had ordered five boxes of 100 pills each and is reportedly taking one dose a week as a “preventative” measure.
He’s also sharing the pills with his own family members.
Meanwhile, there are entire Telegram chat groups consolidating orders for the drug.
Apparently, ivermectin can only be prescribed at several pharmacies here.
Why Would They Do So?
Despite the fact that it can be used to treat large animals, prospective ivermectin users such as Mr Ng is convinced because of the drug’s history: it has apparently been available for human use since 1981.
Also, he stated that there are doses and packaging that cater to human consumption. Hence the strong belief.
It doesn’t help that the drug has been touted as a “miracle cure” over in Indonesia either.
Avid supporters of ivermectin have also accused major vaccine makers such as Moderna and Pfizer of downplaying the effects of the “miracle cure”, in a bid to make a fortune from their own vaccines.
Is It Really Effective Though?
In April 2021, a team from the National University Health System (NUHS) released a study on Covid-19 preventative therapy, which was performed on more than 3,000 migrant workers in May 2020.
In the study, it was shown that oral hydroxychloroquine and povidone-iodine throat spray proved somewhat effective in high spread settings, but ivermectin failed to replicate their success.
Associate Professor Sophia Archuleta, the head of the division of infectious diseases at the National University Hospital (NUH), has also expressed her disapproval of the drug.
“It is dangerous to take medicines of unproven benefit for any medical condition especially as we currently have other proven effective treatments for Covid-19 (such as) remdesivir or dexamethasone,” Assoc Prof Archuleta said.
“Vaccination remains the most effective preventative method.”
Health Risks
Over in the United States, prescriptions for ivermectin have similarly skyrocketed in recent weeks.
However, it should be noted that hospitals and poison control centers in the US have reportedly been treating a number of patients taking ivermectin.
Apart from being hospitalised, some have even experienced “altered mental statuses”.
For the record, overdosing on ivermectin could cause the following symptoms:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Hypotension (low blood pressure)
- Allergic reactions
- Seizures
- Coma
And in the worst-case scenario, it could also lead to death.
It should be noted that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has disapproved the use of ivermectin for the treatment or prevention of Covid-19.
For more info, you can read here.
What Is Ivermectin Actually Used For?
As mentioned above, it’s intended to cure parasitic infections such as head lice and worm infections.
If it’s taken with other medicines, consumers are advised to notify their doctors.
Individuals taking the drug are also disallowed from doubling the dose, regardless of the circumstances.
Read Also:
- Younger Adults in S’pore Might Need A 3rd COVID-19 Vaccine Shot
- Changes To COVID-19 Rules Simplified For You
Feature Image: fizkes / Shutterstock.com (Image for illustration purpose only)