CHJ Staff 

Major news outlets are squirming with reports of people buying an equine anti-parasite medication, Ivermectin, to treat COVID-19. Farm and livestock supply retailers are seeing a surge of demand for the product for human use, despite Health Canada warnings that there could be serious health risks from consuming the medicine intended for deworming animals. 

Health Canada warns that use of the product, especially at high doses, could result in dizziness, seizures, low blood pressure, diarrhea, vomiting, coma or death. In the United States, poisoning calls resulting from ingesting Ivermectin have increased dramatically. 

Health Canada warns Canadians never to consume health products intended for animals because of the potentially serious health dangers they pose. If you have purchased it for this purpose, you should discard it immediately; and if you have used the product, consult a healthcare professional. 

For more information, read:

Health Canada Safety Alert   

Six Reasons Why Not to Steal Your Pet’s Ivermectin to Prevent or Treat COVID-19 

Photo: Shutterstock/Sari ONeal