Posts resurface ivermectin myths following FDA lawsuit settlement

The FDA recently settled a lawsuit with a group of doctors who sued the agency claiming it was interfering with their ability to practice medicine. The plaintiffs are known for spreading false information about vaccines. Following the lawsuit, social media posts in English and Spanish resurfaced myths about ivermectin, falsely claiming that it’s an effective treatment against COVID-19. 

Recommendation:

These types of false claims may encourage patients to seek out dangerous, unproven treatments for COVID-19. Messaging may emphasize that while the FDA settled the lawsuit in question and agreed to take down some social media posts about ivermectin, the agency still disapproves of the medication to treat COVID-19. Ultimately, the court ruled that the FDA’s campaign slogan, “You are not a horse!” was misleading because humans can also use ivermectin, although only to treat parasitic infections. According to the FDA, available data does not demonstrate that ivermectin is effective in the treatment of COVID-19, and taking ivermectin for off-label purposes can result in poisoning. The CDC recommends antiviral treatments for COVID-19 that have been tested, proven effective, and determined to be safe.