# Ivermectin Isn't Horse Medicine! **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [August 31, 2021, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivermectin-isnt-horse-medicine/949831 "2021-08-31T16:18:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivermectin-isnt-horse-medicine/949831/121 "2021-09-07T19:49:13Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > The original report in _Rolling Stone_ That’s not the original report, [this is.](https://kfor.com/news/local/patients-overdosing-on-ivermectin-backing-up-rural-oklahoma-hospitals-ambulances/) [The BBC suggests that the doctor was referring to COVID _and_ Ivermectin cases:](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58449876) > Patients have been needing urgent treatment at emergency units in Oklahoma hospitals after overdosing on the drug, Dr Jason McElyea says. > > Small doses of Ivermectin are approved for use on humans, but not for Covid. > > “You’ve got to have a prescription for this medication for a reason - because it can be dangerous,” Dr McElyea told the BBC. > > He said a “handful” of people overdosing on the drug were putting further strain on hospital staff already stretched by a surge in Covid cases. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivermectin-isnt-horse-medicine/949831/122 "2021-09-07T20:02:45Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > There’s already ample justification for criticizing Covid science deniers. Jumping on the dubious Oklahoma story just provides fuel for the “fake news” shouters and denialists. That’s the beauty of it! Libruhls overhype the danger of horse medicine, which causes righties to take more of it and distrust mainstream medical advice like masks and vaccines. The result is higher covid mortality among covid deniers. Genius! ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivermectin-isnt-horse-medicine/949831/123 "2021-09-07T20:12:44Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > The result is higher covid mortality among covid deniers. Genius! The Wonka Gambit. Those insidious libruhls. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/UVznerpOkTI/hqdefault.jpg "Willy Wonka -- Stop, Don't, Come Back.") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVznerpOkTI) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivermectin-isnt-horse-medicine/949831/124 "2021-09-07T20:14:21Z")
You might want to reread the BBC article again, as its focus is ivermectin overdoses supposedly straining ER facilities. And Rolling Stone came out with this: “The rise in people using ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug usually reserved for deworming horses or livestock, as a treatment or preventative for Covid-19 has emergency rooms “so backed up that gunshot victims were having hard times getting” access to health facilities, an emergency room doctor in Oklahoma said.” “This week, Dr. Jason McElyea told KFOR the overdoses are causing backlogs in rural hospitals, leaving both beds and ambulance services scarce.” It seems that KFOR first aired this dubious story, so I’ll correct my earlier post to reflect that Rolling Stone was the _national_ outlet that gave it legs. The central point remains: Careless, substandard reporting occurred and was amplified, giving credence to a story that at best looks to be grossly exaggerated. People who should have known better were eager to believe it because it justified their preconceived views. Rolling Stone in particular has been badly burned before by reports that fit its mindset (the nonexistent MMR vaccine-autism coverup and the UVA rape case) but didn’t learn from its mistakes on this occasion. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivermectin-isnt-horse-medicine/949831/125 "2021-09-07T20:16:06Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > You might want to reread the BBC article again, as its focus is ivermectin overdoses supposedly straining ER facilities. Did you not notice where the BBC said they failed to verify the earlier statements put out by KFOR? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivermectin-isnt-horse-medicine/949831/126 "2021-09-07T20:23:04Z")
“the BBC was not able to independently verify this claim” refers to gunshot victims allegedly being turned away, and does not question the idea of a flood of ivermectin overdose victims jamming the ERs. So why were they in such a rush to publish such claims? Do BBC reporters not have access to phones to contact hospitals, emergency responders, medical societies and the like? That would have saved them considerable embarassment and having to add “updates”. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivermectin-isnt-horse-medicine/949831/127 "2021-09-08T13:57:42Z")
Duplicate ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivermectin-isnt-horse-medicine/949831/128 "2021-09-09T00:51:29Z")
> **[Joe Rogan slams CNN's coverage about him taking ivermectin to treat COVID:...](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/joe-rogan-slams-cnn-ivermectin-covid-184910943.html)** > > The podcaster revealed last week he had tested positive for COVID and that the animal parasite medicine helped. The Rolling Stone article et al has been debunked. Maddox and Joy Reid should bee censored for “misinformation “ ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivermectin-isnt-horse-medicine/949831/129 "2021-09-09T02:16:31Z")
Never underestimate the power of a placebo ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivermectin-isnt-horse-medicine/949831/130 "2021-09-09T02:32:12Z")
> [@eenerms](#): > > [Joe Rogan slams CNN's coverage about him taking ivermectin to treat COVID](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/joe-rogan-slams-cnn-ivermectin-covid-184910943.html) Who cares if Rogan attributes his improvement to ivermectin? Most people improve whether they take it or not. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivermectin-isnt-horse-medicine/949831/131 "2021-09-09T02:34:39Z")
Darwin takes another whack at deplorables: > **[Ivermectin infertility story correction: FDA rejects 2011 Nigeria study](https://www.wfla.com/community/health/coronavirus/ivermectin-causes-sterilization-in-85-percent-of-men-study-finds/)** > > A national story regarding Ivermectin and a study regarding its effect on men’s reproductive health that KTSM published, has been removed from our website. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivermectin-isnt-horse-medicine/949831/132 "2021-09-09T03:18:49Z")
I’d love to believe that’s true. [Snopes](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/ivermectin-sterility-in-men/) says nopes. > The study in question was not published in a credible journal, nor was it hosted by an accredited, reputable institution. In the decade since the study’s supposed 2011 publication, there has been little — if any — related research to confirm its findings. Furthermore, a spokesperson for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration told Snopes that infertility in men is not a known side effect of ivermectin and, as such, is not included in U.S. labeling requirements ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivermectin-isnt-horse-medicine/949831/133 "2021-09-09T12:46:31Z")
Killjoy. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivermectin-isnt-horse-medicine/949831/134 "2021-09-09T13:03:59Z")
He has a number of fans. He has a platform that he can use to get others to follow his example. There are people who will not improve unless they seek proper medical attention, which they will not because they will be getting horse de-wormer from the tractor supply store. They will not get the vaccine, or follow social distancing/masking recommendations in the belief that there is a miracle drug out there if they do get sick. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivermectin-isnt-horse-medicine/949831/135 "2021-09-09T14:27:32Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > They will not get the vaccine, or follow social distancing/masking recommendations in the belief that there is a miracle drug out there if they do get sick. This is the part I cannot wrap my head around. People will not get the vaccination but will willingly take non-approved medicine promoted by quacks and whackjobs. What makes people fear something promoted by scientists and professionals but listen to cousin Billy on Facebook who did his “research” (listening to Rogan). Even if Rogan didn’t take the horse format, it’s not stopping others from taking that route. This shit is snake oil. > **[Demand Surges for Deworming Drug for Covid, Despite Scant Evidence It Works...](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/30/health/covid-ivermectin-prescriptions.html)** > > Prescriptions for ivermectin have jumped to more than 88,000 per week, some pharmacists are reporting shortages and people are overdosing on forms of the drug meant for horses. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivermectin-isnt-horse-medicine/949831/136 "2021-09-09T14:44:59Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > People will not get the vaccination but will willingly take non-approved medicine promoted by quacks and whackjobs. People will listen to the person that tells them what they want to hear. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivermectin-isnt-horse-medicine/949831/137 "2021-09-09T20:30:33Z")
Is this article at all legit? It seems to suggest that Ivermectin has some success against COVID? [Ivermectin: a multifaceted drug of Nobel prize-honoured distinction with indicated efficacy against a new global scourge, COVID-19 - ScienceDirect](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2052297521000883?via%3Dihub) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivermectin-isnt-horse-medicine/949831/138 "2021-09-09T20:40:26Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Ivermectin: a multifaceted drug of Nobel prize-honoured distinction with indicated efficacy against a new global scourge, COVID-19 - ScienceDirect The first name on that paper evidently belongs to an OB/GYN. What in the hell could they know about Ivermectin’s efficacy against COVID? ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivermectin-isnt-horse-medicine/949831/139 "2021-09-09T21:03:42Z")
And the third name, P.A. McCollough, is a right-wing spreader of misinformation, [says Wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_A._McCullough): > During the [COVID-19 pandemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic), McCullough advocated for early treatment including [hydroxychloroquine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloroquine_and_hydroxychloroquine_during_the_COVID-19_pandemic), dissented from the recommendations of government public health agencies, and contributed to [COVID-19 misinformation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_misinformation). He’s also a member of the right-wing Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, which [Wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_American_Physicians_and_Surgeons) describes as > a [politically conservative](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservatism_in_the_United_States) non-profit association that promotes [medical disinformation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudoscience), such as [HIV/AIDS denialism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV/AIDS_denialism), [the abortion-breast cancer hypothesis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion-breast_cancer_hypothesis), [vaccine and autism connections](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causes_of_autism#Vaccines), and homosexuality reducing life expectancy. The fact he was involved with the study discredits it right there. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivermectin-isnt-horse-medicine/949831/140 "2021-09-09T21:08:21Z")
I’ve also read that one of those people has a financial interest in Ivermectin? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivermectin-isnt-horse-medicine/949831.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivermectin-isnt-horse-medicine/949831.md?page=8)