All About Ivermectin
Ivermectin is a go-to medication in the horse world, knocking out a bunch of pesky parasites. Let’s break down the essentials of ivermectin horse paste, from how to use it to why it’s safe and effective.
How to Use and Dosage
Ivermectin is a one-and-done kind of drug for both humans and animals. You take it once, and that’s it. The dose depends on the weight of the patient. Taking it more than once can be dangerous. For example, taking a human dose every day for 10 days can lead to a toxic buildup (University of Illinois News Bureau).
For horses, it’s super important to get the dose right based on their weight. This ensures the deworming works and avoids any risks of overuse. Always stick to what the vet says to keep things safe and effective.
Safety and Effectiveness
Ivermectin paste is safe for horses of all ages, including pregnant mares and stallions. It won’t mess with a stallion’s fertility.
How does it work? Ivermectin messes with the nerve and muscle function of parasites, causing them to be paralyzed and die. It targets specific receptors on the parasites’ nerve and muscle cells, stopping their activity and leading to paralysis and death (Mad Barn).
Ivermectin is a powerhouse against a variety of parasites like strongyles, ascarids, pinworms, botflies, mites, and lice. It’s a top choice in the horse world because it covers so many parasites and works really well.
In short, when used right, ivermectin is a safe and super effective way to control internal parasites in horses. Always check with a vet for the right usage and dosage to keep your horse healthy and happy.
Ivermectin for Horses
Ivermectin is a go-to over-the-counter med in the horse world for tackling internal parasites. It’s a powerhouse against a bunch of pests like strongyles, ascarids, pinworms, botflies, mites, and lice.
FDA Approval and Uses
The FDA gave the thumbs-up to Ivermectin paste (#200-326) for handling a variety of parasites in horses. This includes big and small strongyles, pinworms, ascarids, bots, lungworms, and more (DailyMed).
FDA Approval Use
#200-326 Treats and controls various parasites in horses: large and small strongyles, pinworms, ascarids, bots, lungworms, and more
How to Give Ivermectin to Horses
The right dose of Ivermectin paste for horses is 91 mcg per pound (200 mcg/kg) of body weight. Each mark on the syringe plunger gives enough paste for 250 pounds of horse.
Dosage How to Give It
91 mcg per lb (200 mcg/kg) of body weight Each mark on the syringe plunger treats 250 lb of body weight
Ivermectin paste is safe for horses of all ages and stages, including pregnant mares. Stallions can also get treated without messing with their fertility (DailyMed).
While Ivermectin is usually well-tolerated and safe, it’s super important to give the right dose based on your horse’s weight. Always follow your vet’s advice to make sure you’re deworming effectively.
The Risks of Ivermectin: What You Need to Know
Ivermectin has become a hot topic, especially for its use in treating animals. But before you jump on the bandwagon, it’s crucial to understand the risks tied to its misuse. This includes knowing about its toxicity, side effects, and the dangers of overdosing.
Toxicity and Side Effects
Ivermectin toxicity is no joke. Cases have shown that folks, mostly men over 60, who took more than the recommended dose ended up with some nasty neurological symptoms (PubMed). We’re talking about seizures and even blindness. The FDA has flagged that it can mess with your gut and brain, and it doesn’t play nice with other meds (University of Illinois News Bureau).
People who took the version meant for animals often took huge doses, either all at once or over several days, and quickly developed neurotoxicity. Those who went for the veterinary stuff ended up with worse mental issues than those who stuck to the prescription tablets.
Misuse and Overdosing
Misusing ivermectin, especially by overdosing, is a serious problem. Take Danny Lemoi, an influencer who pushed the use of ivermectin meant for animals. He died after taking a daily dose meant for horses and cows. Despite his death, his followers kept spreading false info about the drug’s safety, even as they experienced scary side effects.
Chronic misuse is another issue. Some people took normal doses but kept at it for weeks instead of days, leading to milder but still concerning symptoms.
The bottom line? Use ivermectin responsibly and only under expert guidance. Overdosing or misusing it can lead to serious health problems. When it comes to keeping animals healthy, safety should be your top priority. Stick to the recommended doses and be aware of the potential side effects.
Ivermectin Misinformation
When it comes to animal health, it’s crucial to separate fact from fiction. This is especially true for ivermectin, a drug used to treat various parasitic infections in animals. Misinformation about this medication has led to dangerous practices, particularly among those skeptical of mainstream medicine.
Influence on Anti-Vaxxers
During the COVID-19 pandemic, ivermectin became a hot topic among anti-vaxxers. Many started taking the veterinary version of the drug, meant for large animals like horses and cows, instead of the human version. This reckless behavior was partly fueled by influencers like Danny Lemoi, who tragically died after taking a daily dose of the drug designed for large animals. Despite his death, misinformation about ivermectin continued to spread, causing severe symptoms among his followers.
FDA Warnings and Concerns
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has repeatedly warned about the dangers of using veterinary ivermectin in humans. Side effects can be severe and include seizures, coma, lung issues, and heart problems. While ivermectin is used in humans to treat serious illnesses like river blindness, it’s been proven ineffective as a treatment for COVID-19.
Early studies suggested potential benefits of ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment, but large-scale trials have shown no clinical benefit. The evidence from these trials divides the results into those showing no clinical benefit, virological benefit but no clinical benefit, and evidence of clinical benefit in only a small study from Iran.
The arguments against using ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment are based on several factors: potential harm from adverse events, the risk of people self-treating with animal formulations, and the delay or elimination of therapy with drugs known to be effective in reducing severe disease from COVID-19, such as Paxlovid and remdesivir.
In conclusion, while ivermectin has proven benefits in treating certain parasitic infections in animals, it’s crucial to understand its limitations and potential dangers when misused in humans. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any form of treatment.
Ivermectin for Parasite Control
Taking care of your horses and other animals means keeping parasites at bay, and ivermectin is a go-to for many. Knowing how it works and what it targets can make a big difference in how effective it is.
How It Works
Ivermectin messes with the nerve and muscle function of parasites, causing them to become paralyzed and die. It zeroes in on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors on the parasites’ nerves and muscles. By blocking these receptors, it causes paralysis, leading to the parasites’ demise.
But here’s the catch: not all parasites have GABA receptors. Tapeworms and flatworms, for example, don’t, so ivermectin won’t work on them. While ivermectin is powerful, its effectiveness depends on the type of parasite you’re dealing with.
What It Targets
Ivermectin has a wide range of targets, making it a solid choice against many parasites. According to Mad Barn, it’s effective against various nematodes and arthropods. However, it doesn’t work on tapeworms (A. perfoliata) by itself, so you’ll need a different treatment for those.
For horses, ivermectin is one of the most popular dewormers. It tackles a bunch of parasites, including small and large strongyles, ascarids, pinworms, botflies, mites, and lice.
When you stack ivermectin against other antiparasitic meds, like moxidectin, there’s a bit of a difference. Moxidectin, another drug in the same family, is often better for treating the encysted stages of cyathostomins (small strongyles) because it sticks around in the body longer.
Final Thoughts
Ivermectin’s success in parasite control depends on the type of parasite. Identifying the infestation correctly is key to picking the right treatment. Always chat with a vet or animal health expert before giving any meds to your animals.
Busting Ivermectin Myths
Let’s clear the air about ivermectin horse paste and its supposed magic against COVID-19. Misinformation can be dangerous, so let’s stick to the facts backed by science.
Does Ivermectin Work for COVID-19?
Ivermectin has been a hero for treating things like river blindness, but when it comes to COVID-19, it’s a different story. Big, well-done studies have shown that ivermectin doesn’t help with COVID-19 in places like the U.S..
Using ivermectin for COVID-19 can be risky. People might use animal versions of the drug, which isn’t safe. Plus, it could make folks skip treatments that actually work, like Paxlovid and remdesivir.
What Do the Studies Say?
Some early studies hinted that ivermectin might help with COVID-19, but bigger and better studies have shown it doesn’t. The results from these trials are clear: no real benefit. One small study from Iran showed some promise, but it’s an outlier (University of Nebraska Medical Center).
Even after an ivermectin promoter, Danny Lemoi, passed away, his followers kept pushing the drug. Some people reported bad side effects, but others still believed in it for treating all sorts of things, not just COVID-19.
The Bottom Line
The big picture is clear: ivermectin isn’t a cure for COVID-19. Stick to treatments that are proven to work and get vaccinated. Believing in myths about ivermectin horse paste or any other form of the drug can harm public health and put people in danger.
