When COVID-19 first hit in early 2020, the medical world was thrown into a global scramble. We had a fast-spreading virus, no vaccine, and very few treatment options. In that environment, a lot of existing drugs were revisited to see if they might help, and ivermectin quickly found itself in the spotlight.

The Early Hope

Ivermectin wasn’t a random choice. In lab experiments, researchers noticed it could block the replication of certain viruses in cell cultures. That included some coronaviruses.
At the start of the pandemic:

• Small lab studies suggested it might slow down SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), but at doses far higher than what’s considered safe for people.
• A few early human trials were published, often small and sometimes without strong controls. Some of these showed possible benefits, like faster recovery times or lower viral loads. Others didn’t show much difference at all.

Because the world was desperate for answers, these early results were shared widely in the news and on social media, sometimes before the studies were peer-reviewed or replicated.

Why Prescriptions Skyrocketed

From spring 2020 through 2021, prescriptions for ivermectin in the U.S. rose sharply.
A UCLA-led study in Health Affairs found:

• Ivermectin use increased to over 10 times its pre-pandemic rate by August 2021.
• Nearly 3 million prescriptions for COVID-related ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine were filled between January 2020 and June 2023.
• The biggest spikes were in the Southern U.S. and in communities with higher social vulnerability.
• Older adults, especially those 65+, were the most likely to receive it.

Part of the reason was word-of-mouth recommendations, especially in online groups and certain news outlets. Some clinicians prescribed it as an off-label option, believing the potential benefit outweighed the risk while more research was underway.

The Evidence Shift

As time went on, larger, better-designed clinical trials began to answer the big question: Does ivermectin actually help people with COVID-19?

Key findings:

• Most high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) did not find a significant benefit in preventing hospitalization or speeding recovery.
• Some studies that had shown promising results were later retracted due to errors or concerns about data integrity.
• Major health agencies (including the World Health Organization, U.S. FDA, and National Institutes of Health) reviewed the available evidence and concluded there wasn’t enough proof to recommend ivermectin for COVID-19 outside of clinical trials.

Where Things Stand Now

By early 2022, authorized COVID-19 treatments like Paxlovid and molnupiravir became available. Prescription rates for ivermectin dropped by over 90%. Still, some doctors continue to prescribe it off-label, and some patients still request it based on personal belief, anecdotal experience, or distrust of newer medications.

• Ivermectin remains a safe, well-established drug for certain parasitic infections when used at the proper dose.
  
• Research into ivermectin for other conditions is still ongoing, but any new claims need to be backed by strong, peer-reviewed evidence before changing medical guidance.

Bottom line:
During the early pandemic, ivermectin represented both hope and controversy. It was tested quickly, prescribed widely, and debated fiercely. The story of ivermectin and COVID-19 is a reminder of how fast science can move — and how important it is to wait for thorough, reliable evidence before drawing conclusions.