The Therapeutic Goods Administration has issued a warning about the dangers of using ivermectin, which is commonly used to deworm livestock as a treatment for Covid-19, due to a 10-fold increase in imports from Australia in August.
A spokesperson for the TGA stated to Guardian Australia that there has been an increase in people bringing the drug into Australia, amid growing reports from the United States about people calling poison information hotlines in regards to self-medicating using ivermectin for Covid-19.
The TGA and the Australian Border Force work together to identify illegal imports of therapeutic goods that could be subject to TGA assessment. A spokesperson stated that the TGA has seen a significant increase in detections of ivermectin, which is more than 10 times greater than before.
The TGA reported that there was a shortage in local supplies of ivermectin amid the largest Covid outbreak in Australia, which is still raging in New South Wales.
Unexpectedly, there was a shortage of Stromectol 3mg Ivermectin tablets from 2 August 2021 to 2 August 2021. The shortage was resolved.
Concern over the increase in importation led the TGA to issue a public statement last week against anyone using the drug for Covid-19 treatment.
The regulator stated that Ivermectin, a prescription medication, is not approved for use in Australia or in any other OECD country to treat Covid-19. It should therefore not be imported for this purpose.
TGA strongly discourages self medication and self-dosing of ivermectin in patients with Covid-19. This could be harmful to your health. Ivermectin is not recommended for patients with Covid-19.
This month, the National Covid-19 Clincial Evidence Taskforce published a one-page FAQ to help people who are considering using ivermectin for Covid-19 treatments. It stated its strong opposition to using the drug in any way other than randomised clinical trials.
The taskforce stated that as of 20 August 2021 there was still uncertainty about whether ivermectin is safer and more effective than standard care for patients with Covid-19.
Guardian Australia observed Australian anti-vaccination activists on Telegram. They shared links to online pharmacies where they could buy the drug and advised them on how to use it.
Australians are interested in ivermectin for Covid-19 treatment alternatives. This interest stems from rightwing media like Fox News and American political circles.
Last week, the US Food and Drug Administration had to warn the public against taking the drug. There were reports that there was an increase in poison hotlines calls from people who took ivermectin. At least one person was hospitalised.
The FDA tweeted that you are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously, yall. Stop.
Side effects of ivermectin use include skin rash and nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea. Facial or limb swelling. Neurologic adverse events can occur (dizziness seizures, confusion, sudden drop in blood pressure), severe skin rash that could require hospitalisation and liver injury (hepatitis).
Low white cell count or elevated liver tests are two examples of laboratory abnormalities. Avoid using ivermectin to treat or prevent Covid-19.
Because of the attention that right-wing politicians, media pundits are paying to the drug in the United States and the demand for Covid treatment in Australia, their Australian counterparts have also adopted the call for the drug.
Sky News was recently banned from posting videos on YouTube for advocating the use of unproven and experimental Covid-19 treatments like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin.
Craig Kelly, an ex-Liberal MP, was banned from Facebook because he promoted ivermectin. Other members of parliament are also seeking out answers as to why the drug is not approved in Australia.
Senator Gerard Rennick of Liberal National Party and Malcolm Roberts from One Nation Party both asked Senate estimates questions to the health department about availability of ivermectin for Covid-19 in Australia.
In response, the department stated that no one had ever applied for approval to use ivermectin in Australia for Covid-19 treatment.
The department stated that a sponsor must submit a complete application supporting the supply of ivermectin for registration by the TGA to treat Covid-19.
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The application would need to include a dossier of clinical studies, non-clinical/toxicology studies, and other information. According to the department, there have not been any compelling studies on ivermectins in Covid-19 treatment.
There are some studies that have been published on unreferenced sites or in medical journals of second- and third-tier quality, but the majority view of regulators and top-tier international journals suggests that there is no compelling evidence to support clinical efficacy for ivermectin.
