The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been forced to issue a warning to people not to use Ivermectin, the cattle wormer, to treat or prevent COVID-19.

It said it has received multiple reports of people who have required medical support and been hospitalised after self-medicating with Ivermectin intended for horses.

It has warned that using any treatment for COVID-19 that is not approved or authorised by the FDA, unless part of a clinical trial, can cause serious harm.

In a tweet, the FDA said: “You are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously, y’all. Stop it”.

Not approved

The FDA said it has not approved Ivermectin for use in treating or preventing COVID-19 in humans.

“Ivermectin tablets are approved at very specific doses for some parasitic worms, and there are topical (on the skin) formulations for head lice and skin conditions like rosacea. Ivermectin is not an anti-viral (a drug for treating viruses).

“Taking large doses of this drug is dangerous and can cause serious harm.

“Never use medications intended for animals on yourself. Ivermectin preparations for animals are very different from those approved for humans,” it said.