Short answer — because of COVID-era hype plus easy buy Ivermectin online access. From about late 2020 through 2022 (with prescription and online-sales peaks around December 2020 and Aug 2021) lots of Americans bought ivermectin online for human use even though it’s not authorized for COVID-19. Below I summarize the main causes, the timeline, and the harms/official responses (with sources).
What actually happened (timeline, at a glance)
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Before 2020: ivermectin was an established antiparasitic Ivermectin Cure humans for specific infections (and widely used in animals). Human use was limited to approved parasitic indications; veterinary formulations dominated the market.
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Late 2020 → 2021: after early laboratory reports and a flurry of low-quality clinical studies, social media, influencers and some clinicians promoted ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment. Prescribing and purchases spiked — studies show major increases in outpatient ivermectin dispensing with peaks in Dec 2020 and Aug 2021.
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2021–2022: regulators and manufacturers warned against its use for COVID-19; poison centers and hospitals reported harms from people taking veterinary formulations or inappropriate doses; the FDA and Merck publicly cautioned against off-label use. Meanwhile, some telemedicine/online pharmacies sold it widely, sometimes without adequate clinical oversight.
Why people Buy ivermectin online (main reasons)
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Misinformation and celebrity/political amplification. Social networks, podcasts and cable hosts amplified claims that ivermectin could prevent or treat COVID-19; that drove curiosity and demand.
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Early lab studies (misinterpreted) and selective clinical reports. A high-profile in-vitro study showing antiviral activity got picked up widely, despite the doses used being far higher than safe human doses. That scientific nuance was lost in many headlines.
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Easy access through online/telehealth channels. The pandemic expansion of telemedicine and online pharmacies — including some bad-actor sites — made it easy to get prescriptions or to order veterinary products. Some telehealth services explicitly offered ivermectin, increasing online sales.
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Availability of veterinary (cheaper/easier) formulations. When people couldn’t obtain human prescription tablets, some bought livestock formulations from online vendors or farm stores — a dangerous practice. Supply pressure and price spikes for animal ivermectin also occurred.
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Distrust of institutions / desire for an “early” or “home” cure. Vaccine hesitancy, distrust of official guidance, and the wish for an immediately available remedy pushed some toward self-treatment. (This is supported by the pattern of off-label prescribing and online demand.)
Consequences & official responses
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Regulatory warnings: FDA repeatedly said ivermectin is not authorized/approved to prevent or treat COVID-19 in humans and warned against using veterinary products; Merck similarly discouraged use for COVID-19.
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Medical/safety harms: Poison centers and hospitals reported cases of toxicity from inappropriate dosing and veterinary formulations; peer-reviewed alerts and case reports documented toxic effects.
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Legal / market fallout: Some online vendors received FDA warning letters; some telehealth/pharmacy operations were investigated; insurers and public-health researchers documented large, likely wasteful prescribing spikes.
Short practical takeaway
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Ivermectin is approved for a few human parasitic diseases but is not FDA-approved for COVID-19; treating COVID with veterinary ivermectin is unsafe. If you (or someone you know) are thinking about ivermectin for COVID or anything off-label, discuss it with a licensed clinician and avoid veterinary products.