Dr. Lobert Padua, infectious diseases specialist and consultant of General Santos City Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (PNA GenSan file photo)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The city government cautioned residents against taking anti-parasitic drug ivermectin as treatment for suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) symptoms as they could be at risk of possible adverse effects.
This, as some residents here have reportedly accessed and taken the controversial drug as supposed medication for the disease without proper prescription and supervision by medical doctors.
Dr. Lobert Padua, consultant of the City Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, said they are not aware of the source and how they were accessed by the concerned individuals.
“We became only aware that they took ivermectin when they were admitted in our hospitals,” he told reporters.
He said the Department of Health (DOH) has not yet recommended the use of the drug for Covid-19 treatment due to lack of evidence regarding its efficacy.
As of Tuesday, ivermectin is only allowed for human anti-parasitic treatment based on the certificate of product registration issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The agency has so far issued compassionate use permits to at least six hospitals for the use of the drug, which is openly sold on online shopping sites, as experimental treatment for Covid-19.
“This might change in the future if FDA will approve it for usage in hospitals and for personal use but that is not the case right now,” Padua said.
He said it is important to complete the trials to establish the possible doses of the drug for Covid-19 treatment and prophylaxis, which is not available right now.
Improper doses could result in some adverse effects such as dermatological reactions, lymphadenitis, synovitis, fever, tachycardia and facial edema, he said.
“It is safe for parasitic treatment but for Covid-19, we don’t know the effect of high dosage treatment,” Padua said. (PNA)
