A Senate bill that would reclassify Ivermectin, commonly used to treat parasitic infections, as an over-the-counter medication in Louisiana passed the House Health and Welfare committee on a 10-1 vote. Louisiana Surgeon General Dr. Ralph Abraham supports the bill. He says Ivermectin as an over-counter drug would increase access and promote medical freedom.
“To me it’s a patient freedom issue, it’s a commonsense issue, and I would like to see it go over the counter. Other states have done it, to my knowledge, have had absolutely no issues with it going over the counter,” Abraham said.
Some people turned to Ivermectin during the COVID pandemic as a way to prevent and treat the virus. But the FDA never authorized that type of treatment for COVID. Pharmacist Dr. Jonathan Hartman says allowing people to use Ivermectin for other reasons than to treat a parasite would put pharmacists in a difficult position.
“Because then we would be liable if they would have not, at first event, taken that medication for a non-approved indication and they were to, perhaps, sue or would be worried about a side effect. There would just be a lot of issues there,” Hartman explained.
In Louisiana, Ivermectin is only available in livestock and feed stores. Abraham says it should be in your local pharmacy too.
“If it’s going to be available, then I prefer it available in a human form that, as a physician, I can have a conversation with my patient where they don’t feel embarrassed or they won’t hide something,” Abraham said.
The Senate approved bill heads to the House floor for more debate.
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