Choosing and using ivermectin for covid-19 in India
In the Northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Ivermectin has been in use for treatment and prophylaxis of covid-19 since August 2020. In the current covid wave (April-May 2021) test-positivity has fallen from 20% to 4% in just 20 days ,according to Dr Suryakant, an expert respiratory physician based in Lucknow.
“Invermectin is not only an antibiotic and anti-parasitic drug, it is also an anti-cancer, immuno-modulator and antiviral drug”, says Dr Suryakant. Its antiviral effects were first reported in an in-vitro study that showed a 5000-fold reduction in viral RNA after 48 hours.1 There are now more than 40 clinical trials worldwide for Ivermectin as prophylaxis and treatment for covid-19.
