Ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug used against various parasites including parasitic worms, has shown promise as an effective treatment for HIV/AIDS according to new research released at the recent conference of the International AIDS Society in Melbourne, Australia. It will not be widely available until after clinical trials are completed, but once released it could prove to be extremely helpful in treating this insidious disease. Ivermectin is already widely used in the treatment of river blindness, which afflicts 30 million people worldwide and results in the loss of vision in 30% of those who contract it.
What is Ivermectin?
Ivermectin is a drug that has been used for years in veterinary medicine to treat parasites such as heartworm. It was approved for human use by FDA in 1987 and was originally marketed under the name Stromectol. In 1995, it became available over-the-counter as generics and still retains this status today. In humans, it is primarily used to treat onchocerciasis (river blindness), caused by parasitic worms that are transmitted by the bites of certain types of blackflies found near rivers and streams where they live. The worms live within certain cells around your eyes, which can cause vision problems and even blindness.
How does it work?
Ivermectin is a treatment for parasites and it is usually taken orally. It has been used as an antihelminthic agent in animals to control or eliminate endoparasites, ectoparasites, and helminths. The drug has also been tried for a variety of other purposes such as in the treatment of leprosy, African swine fever, onchocerciasis (river blindness), amebiasis, trichuriasis and filariasis.
Ivermectin belongs to a class of drugs called avermectins which are semi-synthetic derivatives of avermectin B1a found in the bacterium Streptomyces avermitilis. Avermectins work by selectively inhibiting excitation propagation in invertebrate nerve tissue at concentrations far below those required for effects on vertebrates. Ivermectin was discovered when scientists were testing soil samples from Cameroon and West Africa for the existence of new microorganisms that could produce natural pesticides – specifically those that kill parasitic roundworms known as nematodes. After isolating a novel microorganism, they extracted its natural product: ivermectin!
Does it have any side effects?
Ivermectin is a drug that has been approved for use in humans to treat onchocerciasis and river blindness. It may also work as a treatment for lymphatic filariasis but has not yet been approved for use in humans. In addition, it appears to have potential as a treatment against Ebola virus disease.
Ivermectin does not have any known side effects. This is because it was developed decades ago, before researchers had discovered how to create drugs that could be more targeted and specific with their effects on the human body. As such, it appears to have few negative consequences for people who take it.
How effective is it?
Ivermectin is often used to treat parasites in humans and animals, like heartworm. It also has a proven record of being highly effective against many types of parasites that affect livestock. In addition, it has been shown to kill tapeworms (a type of parasite) in cats and dogs. The effectiveness of Ivermectin as an antiparasitic agent is due to its ability to block nerve transmission by interfering with the function of invertebrate nerve cells called acetylcholine receptors. When Ivermectin binds to these acetylcholine receptors, ion channels are closed which stops ions from flowing through.
Ivermectin was first approved for use on cattle for the control of gastrointestinal roundworms including Ostertagia spp., Cooperia spp., Nematodirus spp., Bunostomum sp., Toxocara cati, Oesophagostomum sp.; lungworms; gastrointestinal nematodes; large strongyles; pinworms; horses for the control of small strongyles; beef/dairy cows for the control of stomach worms, nasal bots, and grubs; chickens/turkeys for removal of nosema and intestinal coccidia protozoa.
Who should take it?
Ivermectin has been used for decades to treat parasites and other infections, but it can also help patients with MS. In a recent study, in which participants were given either ivermectin or a placebo, those who took the medication saw a reduction in both their relapses and lesions on MRI scans. As such, researchers believe that there may be a connection between the type of worms found inside humans’ brains and MS. One of these species is Onchocerca volvulus, which infects over 100 million people worldwide through contact with flies that carry it. It is estimated that more than one billion people are infected by this parasite at any given time.
Where can I get it?
Ivermectin is a broad-spectrum antiparasitic agent that is typically used for treating diseases like river blindness and elephantiasis. Additionally, it can also be used to prevent heartworm disease in dogs and cats.
It’s not FDA-approved for treating humans but that hasn’t stopped some people from using it off-label. For example, according to this study published by BMC Health Services Research,buy Ivermectin has been administered as a treatment for PTLDS or chronic Lyme Disease with mixed results.
