Statewide Iowa (RI) — Governor Kim Reynolds is proposing that Iowa join a handful of other states that have made it legal for pharmacists to make over-the-counter sales of ivermectin. It’s a prescription drug the FDA has approved as treatment for parasitic infections, like stomach worms and head lice in humans.
During the pandemic, people began to buy Ivermectin that had been approved for use in livestock.
Tennessee was the first state to allow ivermectin to be sold over-the-counter without a prescription. Louisiana’s law requires a standing order from a physician, indicating pharmacists may dispense ivermectin if a customer meets certain criteria. The bill Reynolds is proposing isn’t publicly available in the legislature’s online system yet.
The Food and Drug Administration’s website says the agency has not authorized or approved ivermectin for use in the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 in humans, and it has received multiple reports of patients who have required medical attention after self-medicating with ivermectin intended for animals. Medical groups warn that the wrong dosage of ivermectin can cause low blood pressure, seizures, and even death.
KIWA Staff Photo
