Five years after the pandemic began, interest in the anti-parasitic drug is rising again as right-wing influencers promote it — and spread misinformation about it.
I’ve heard that this mess started because Ivermectin was tested in the developing world as a treatment for Covid, and that some of those who took it reported “feeling better.”
Except in those parts of the world, many many people have untreated, festering parasite infestations like hookworm and many others. So yeah, when they take an antiparasitic compound, they start “feeling better,” whether they have Covid or not.
also the right is taking horse and cattle paste, which is much higher doses, and is dangerous for people. also only useful for intestinal parasites, the ones that enter other organs need other anti-parasitic drugs. in low doses, medically it is also used for rosacea and perioral dermatitis topically.
Actually I heard that physiologically improbable levels of the drug inhibited viral replication in cell culture. It is a common phenomenon that many things apparently inhibit pathogens in culture but are ineffective or harmful in an intact organism. Often this is because physiologically impossible concentrations are used in cell cultures. Often in concentrations that interfere with biology and metabolism of the cells in culture to the extent that viruses can’t replicate in the cells rendered moribund by the high concentrations of the substance being tested.
Social media circus got a hold of the “results,” doctors said “No, that’s dumb,” and then the terminally contrarian went off the deep end with “what are they hiding from us!?!?” As they do every single time a quick and cheap “cure” is debunked.
I’ve heard that this mess started because Ivermectin was tested in the developing world as a treatment for Covid, and that some of those who took it reported “feeling better.”
Except in those parts of the world, many many people have untreated, festering parasite infestations like hookworm and many others. So yeah, when they take an antiparasitic compound, they start “feeling better,” whether they have Covid or not.
also the right is taking horse and cattle paste, which is much higher doses, and is dangerous for people. also only useful for intestinal parasites, the ones that enter other organs need other anti-parasitic drugs. in low doses, medically it is also used for rosacea and perioral dermatitis topically.
I would love some more information on this to counter my antivax family.
Actually I heard that physiologically improbable levels of the drug inhibited viral replication in cell culture. It is a common phenomenon that many things apparently inhibit pathogens in culture but are ineffective or harmful in an intact organism. Often this is because physiologically impossible concentrations are used in cell cultures. Often in concentrations that interfere with biology and metabolism of the cells in culture to the extent that viruses can’t replicate in the cells rendered moribund by the high concentrations of the substance being tested.
It brings to mind this XKCD.
Like injecting bleach…
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That doesn’t explain why Americans bought into it.
Americans have education levels of the developing world. Probably worse, since many worship ignorance.
Social media circus got a hold of the “results,” doctors said “No, that’s dumb,” and then the terminally contrarian went off the deep end with “what are they hiding from us!?!?” As they do every single time a quick and cheap “cure” is debunked.