Ivermectin

Ivermectin is a medication that is effective against many types of parasites.[1] It is used to treat head lice,[2] scabies,[3] river blindness,[4] strongyloidiasis,[5] and lymphatic filariasis, among others.[6] It can be either applied to the skin or taken by mouth. The eyes should be avoided.[2]

Common side effects include red eyes, dry skin, and burning skin. It is in the avermectin family of medications, which work by causing the membrane of invertebrate nerve and muscle cells to become more permeable to chloride ions, resulting in paralysis and death.

Ivermectin is a broad-spectrum antiparasitic agent, traditionally against parasitic worms. It is mainly used in humans in the treatment of onchocerciasis (river blindness), but is also effective against other worm infestations (such as strongyloidiasis, ascariasis, trichuriasis, filariasis and enterobiasis), and some epidermal parasitic skin diseases, including scabies.

Ivermectin can be very effective against insects that draw blood from humans as food. It is used to combat bedbugs where the drug enters the human bloodstream and if the bedbugs bite during that time, they will die in a few days.

It is used to treat rosacea.

Ivermectin is most often sold as the brand Stromectol.

In veterinary medicine ivermectin is used against many intestinal worms (but not tapeworms), most mites, and some lice. Despite this, it is not effective for eliminating ticks, flies, flukes, or fleas. It is effective against larval heartworms, but not against adult heartworms, though it may shorten their lives.