With hospitals already spending many resources in the fight against COVID, Banner Health locations are seeing a new trend among patients — ivermectin.
Dr. Marjorie Bessel, Banner Health’s Chief Clinical Officer, reported Sept. 15 that Banner’s Poison and Drug Information Center managed 10 cases in the month of August regarding ivermectin, which is used to treat or prevent parasites in animals but which some people have started to take to treat or prevent COVID. Some cases were severe enough to require hospitalization.
The FDA has not authorized ivermectin for use in preventing or treating COVID-19 in humans or animals. Banner hospitals and providers do not use or prescribe the livestock medication for people.
