Ivermectin: Uses, Safety and Drug Interactions

Ivermectin: uses, safety and drug interactions

Overview: Ivermectin is an antiparasitic medicine. This summary concerns tablets made for human oral use, not veterinary preparations or skin creams. The reviewed US prescribing information covers intestinal strongyloidiasis and onchocerciasis. The correct treatment depends on the diagnosed parasite, body weight, exposure history and the person’s medical condition.

Uses and formulation: For strongyloidiasis, follow-up stool examinations help establish whether the infection has cleared. In onchocerciasis, ivermectin does not kill the adult worms, so continued follow-up and further treatment may be needed. A different country’s indication or a different formulation should not be assumed to apply to the tablets described here. Do not use an animal product to treat a person.

Safety: Dizziness, itching, nausea, diarrhoea or rash can occur. Severe confusion, unusual difficulty waking, seizures, fainting, breathing difficulty or blistering skin reactions need urgent assessment. Tell the clinician about travel or residence in areas where Loa loa infection occurs before treatment. Pregnancy safety is not established, and breastfeeding requires an individual assessment. Safety and effectiveness below 15 kg have not been established in this label.

Drug interactions: The US label records rare post-marketing reports of increased INR when ivermectin was taken with warfarin. This does not establish the frequency of bleeding or prove the same interaction with every anticoagulant. Someone taking warfarin should tell the prescriber and arrange appropriate INR monitoring rather than changing either medicine independently.

Sources

• Ajanta Pharma Ivermectin Tablets USP — US prescribing information
• WHO Collaborating Centre ATC/DDD Index 2026 — Ivermectin P02CF01

This page provides an English summary of the cited sources. Source check: 30 October 2026. This date records a source check, not a clinical review by a doctor or pharmacist. Follow the current leaflet for your product and seek professional advice for personal treatment.