Ivermectin fever has gripped the North Coast with some medical doctors using the anti-parasitic drug as an off-label treatment for the Covid-19 virus and residents stockpiling the drug.
The drug has not been given the green light for human consumption by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) however, demand for the drug has become frenzied, fueling a roaring black-market.
North Coast residents and some health professionals have thrown caution to the wind by using the drug that is only licenced for use as an anti-parasitic treatment in animals.
Many believe Ivermectin is a “miracle” treatment for Covid-19 with the potential to save many lives.
The second wave of the pandemic has prompted such a demand for the drug that it is now difficult to come by.
Agricultural stores said the drug flew off their shelves last month after social media platforms started touting its effectiveness.
They said demand had caused a shortage.
The regulatory authority warned that any attempts to import the drug into the country would be seen as unlawful and also warned that there was no evidence to prove the safety and efficacy of Ivermectin.
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One Ballito doctor, speaking on condition of anonymity, said more than a dozen of his Covid-19 patients had recovered after treating them with Ivermectin, stopping the downward slide they were on.
He is so convinced of Ivermectin’s effectiveness that he gives it to all his patients showing signs of Covid-19, especially since the drug, in his opinion, has few known negative side effects.
He said it had been seen to effectively treat the virus in the early symptomatic stages and among those hospitalised.
Several North Coast health professionals and front-line workers admitted to using it as a preventative treatment.
While some lab tests have indicated that Ivermectin may cut the Covid mortality rate significantly, medical experts say the science behind the use of the drug in the treatment of the virus is inadequate.
The SA national health department said “given the limited evidence of efficacy and safety, as well as appropriated dosing of Ivermectin, its place in therapy and prophylaxix remains uncertain at this point.”
The Ballito doctor said he believed the safety concerns were no more than “lies and propaganda”, insisting there was not enough literature to validate that claim.
“Big pharma does not want Ivermectin to be used because they want to profit from more expensive drugs,” he said, maintaining that the long-established safety of the drug that has been available for more than 40 years and earned researchers a Nobel Prize, was enough to warrant using it.
The eagerness to use it as a treatment has grown as the virus continues to spread aggressively. While Ivermectin is normally an inexpensive drug (50ml at R120/ 500ml at R480), its off-label use has driven its price into the thousands of rands.
A Ballito resident said she paid R1 400 for 50ml after buying it through a contact on a WhatsApp group.
“We were so afraid of testing positive for coronavirus that we willingly took it. My entire family, including our children have taken Ivermectin and are fine.”
A Groutville farmer who has been using Ivermectin on his livestock for decades said farmers were struggling to get the drug as it flew off the shelves.
“We have all taken it as a preventative treatment but unfortunately its no longer available as a cheap drug. The demand has driven prices to ridiculous levels. If you want Ivermectin you have to buy it underground,” he said.
Sahpra is cautioning people to not use Ivermectin bought on the black market.
“At present there is no confirmatory clinical evidence available for the use of Ivermectin in the management of Covid-19 infections. The use of such a drug could potentially lead to harmful effects or even death.”
Appeals to President Cyril Ramaphosa to review the country’s stance on Ivermectin were raised in a petition endorsed by nearly 100 medical professionals last week.
Lobby group, Afriforum is also considering legal action over the banning of the use of Ivermectin for humans.
Disclaimer
In this article on Ivermectin, The North Coast Courier examines people’s different viewpoints on the selling and using of this drug. Neither the newspaper nor Caxton claim to be medical experts on this topic, nor advocate or criticize the consumption, distribution or efficacy of the drug. The North Coast Courier advises anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 to discuss this with a medically trained health professional.
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