KUALA LUMPUR – The National Poison Centre has received reports on two cases of poisoning involving the use of ivermectin.
The Health Ministry in a statement on Facebook today said the first case involves a 35-year-old who experienced shortness of breath for up to five days after taking the drug.
“The second case involves a senior citizen who was found unconscious after allegedly taking 15 ivermectin pills in one go.”
It said there is no antidote or specific treatment for such cases, and advised the public against taking ivermectin for self-treatment.
The drug, which has not been approved for use to prevent or treat Covid-19 in Malaysia, has been found to be sold illegally, it said.
The ministry added that taking ivermectin without in-depth studies being conducted, or with improper dosage, can result in poisoning and adverse effects including vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and dizziness.
On June 5, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah was reported as saying the ministry and Institute for Clinical Research have started clinical trials to study the use and efficacy of ivermectin in high-risk Covid-19 patients at 12 ministry hospitals.
He said ivermectin is a United States Food and Drug Administration-approved anti-parasitic drug widely used to treat several neglected tropical diseases, such as onchocerciasis, strongyloidiasis and helminthiases.
However, the evidence is inconclusive when it comes to recommending its routine use on Covid-19 patients, he said. – Bernama, August 14, 2021
