Viral anti-parasitic drug during pandemic to be sold over the counter

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Texas Senate passed a bill that would make Ivermectin — a drug commonly used to treat livestock for parasites — available to Texans without a prescription.

The bill now heads to Governor Greg Abbott, who is expected to sign it into law. If signed into law, Texas is set to become the fifth state in the country to allow over-the-counter sales of Ivermectin — a drug sold globally and often purchased in Mexico at a lower price.

"I think that to a certain extent, more drugs should be accessible to patients and be able to make a good decision," said Dr. Bobby Muniz, a pharmacist at Muniz Rio Grande Pharmacy.

Dr. Muniz explains that Ivermectin is both an anti-parasitic and antiviral drug. It is used to treat intestinal parasites and skin conditions such as lice in humans with a prescription and is also commonly used in animals.

The drug gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic when some people began using it to treat the virus, despite it not being approved for that purpose. Muniz says sales at his pharmacy have dropped by more than 90% since last year.

"There has been this desire to have Ivermectin readily available, and I think the use increased because of COVID," Muniz said. "Now, we have to remind the community that Ivermectin is not FDA-approved for COVID."

Once the governor signs the bill, Texans will no longer need a prescription to purchase Ivermectin. However, they will still need to request it at the pharmacy counter.

"If it were to become over-the-counter — behind-the-counter-that — would mean they still have to come to the counter to get it," Muniz said. "They wouldn’t just be able to grab it off the shelf."

Muniz warns that improper use of the medication can lead to serious side effects, including liver damage and neurological problems.

Clinical trials are currently underway to test Ivermectin's effectiveness against certain types of cancer, but the drug is not FDA-approved for cancer treatment either.

As for the retail price of over-the-counter Ivermectin, that has yet to be determined.

"I think that along with their practitioners and pharmacists supporting them on this journey, it's generally something that is a good thing," Muniz added.