DON’T BET ON THE HORSE DE-WORMER

IVERMECTIN, an antiparasitic drug used to protect children from severe infections in developing nations – and also used in veterinary medicine, hence the ‘horse de-wormer’ epithet – has been mooted as a Covid treatment.

Early lab studies showed it had antiviral activity. Clinical trials also produced spectacular results, with 88 per cent of hospitalised Covid patients recovering in one trial and 94 per cent in another.

Unfortunately, these studies were revealed to either be flawed or made up.

Despite this, there are long Covid patients who have given it a go. Anecdotally, some have said it made them feel better.

Others claim that it made no difference.

Side effects can include vision problems, rashes, confusion, swollen glands, stomach and joint pain, and increased heart rate.

We can’t recommend that anyone take ivermectin, no matter how desperate they might feel.