Stromectol 3mg (ivermectin)

Stromectol general information

What is Stromectol used for?

Stromectol tablets 3mg are used to treat parasitic infections caused by parasitic worms and ectoparasites.  Strongyloidiasis is an infection caused by the nematode Strongyloides stercoralis an intestinal parasite belonging to the hookwork group of roundworms.  Infection occurs by direct contact with contaminated soil and the larval worms enter the blood stream, migrate to the lungs and are then swallowed.  Once in the host intestine, the larvae mature into adults and produce eggs, which hatch and the next generation of larvae are excreted in the faeces or migrate to other parts of the body and thereby reinfect the same host.  Symptoms of strongyloidiasis include a rash at the site of larval penetration, usually the feet, gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting); other symptoms include low-grade fever, coughing and wheezing, due to the migration of larvae through the lungs.  Severe infection can be more serious if the parasite spreads throughout the body.  Stromectol tablets 3mg are also used to treat lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis caused by the thread-like nematode worm Wuchereria bancrofti carried by mosquitos.  Transmission is by a bite from and infected mosquito when the larvae enter the blood stream and migrate to the lymph vessels.  They mature into adults, mate and produce and microfilariae, which circulate in the blood ready to infect when another mosquito bites, where they grow into adults and begin the life cycle again.  Symptoms of lymphatic filariasis include lymphoedema or obstruction of the lymphatic system causing swelling in the arms, legs or genitals, which can be painful and disfiguring. Stromectol tablets 3mg are also used to treat scabies, after prior treatment has failed.  Scabies is a contagious parasitic infection, caused by the parasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei, which is transmitted by direct skin contact. The scabies mite burrows into the skin causing itching as it burrows, which can be intense and is often worse at night.  Within two to six weeks after infection the mite can cause an allergic reaction with symptoms including a rash, seen as small red bumps on the limbs and trunk, which are usually very itchy; also nodules in the groin or armpit.  Burrow lines can also be seen at the site of infection, usually between the fingers, on the skin of the hands, feet, wrist, elbows, buttocks and genitals.  If left untreated scabies infection can cause secondary complications like impetigo (infection and inflammation of superficial skin cells) and cellulitis (inflammation of the lower dermal or subcutaneous skin layers).  Stromectol tablets 3mg work through the same mechanism to kill the parasite causing these infections and thereby treat the infection to relieve symptoms and prevent spread of infection. 

How does Stromectol work?

Stromectol tablets 3mg contains ivermectin, an anthelmintic derived from the avermectins (isolated from fermentation of Streptomyces avermitilis) that is used to treat a variety of parasitic diseases.  Ivermectin in Stromectol tablets 3mg works by interacting directly and specifically with the nervous system of the parasite but does not affect mammals.  Ivermectin binds with high affinity to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate (GluCl) regulated chloride channels in invertebrate nerve and muscle cells, causing paralysis and death of the parasite.  Stromectol tablets 3mg are effective in interrupting the infectious cycle and helping to prevent spread of infection.

What does Stromectol contain?

Stromectol tablets contain the active ingredient ivermectin (3mg), an anthelmintic used to treat a variety of parasitic diseases.  They also contain microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinised corn starch, butylated hydroxyanisole, citric acid anhydrous, magnesium stearate.

Treating Strongyloidiasis with Stromectol

Stromectol tablets 3mg contains ivermectin, an anthelmintic used to treat strongyloidiasis an infection caused by the intestinal parasitic nematode Strongyloides stercorali.  Infection occurs by direct contact with contaminated soil and the larval worms enter the blood stream, migrate to the lungs and are then swallowed.  Once in the host intestine, the larvae mature into adults and produce eggs, which hatch and the next generation of larvae are excreted in the faeces or migrate to other parts of the body and thereby reinfect the same host.  Symptoms of strongyloidiasis include a rash at the site of larval penetration, usually the feet, gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting); other symptoms include low-grade fever, coughing and wheezing, due to the migration of larvae through the lungs.  Severe infection can be more serious if the parasite spreads throughout the body.  Ivermectin in Stromectol tablets 3mg works by interacting directly and specifically with the nervous system of the parasite but does not affect mammals.  Ivermectin binds with high affinity to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate (GluCl) regulated chloride channels in invertebrate nerve and muscle cells, causing paralysis and death of the parasite.  Stromectol tablets 3mg are effective in interrupting the infectious cycle and helping to prevent spread of infection.

Treating lymphatic filariasis with Stromectol

Stromectol tablets 3mg contains ivermectin, an anthelmintic used to treat lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis caused by the thread-like nematode worm Wuchereria bancrofti carried by mosquitos.  Transmission is by a bite from and infected mosquito when the larvae enter the blood stream and migrate to the lymph vessels.  They mature into adults, mate and produce and microfilariae which circulate in the blood ready to infect when another mosquito bites then grow into adults and begin the life cycle again.  Symptoms of lymphatic filariasis include lymphoedema or obstruction of the lymphatic system causing swelling in the arms, legs or genitals, which can be painful and disfiguring.  Ivermectin in Stromectol tablets 3mg works by interacting directly and specifically with the nervous system of the parasite but does not affect mammals.   Ivermectin binds with high affinity to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate (GluCl) regulated chloride channels in invertebrate nerve and muscle cells, causing paralysis and death of the parasite.  Stromectol tablets 3mg are effective in interrupting the infectious cycle and helping to prevent spread of infection.

Treating scabies with Stromectol

Stromectol tablets 3mg contains ivermectin, an anthelmintic used to treat scabies, caused by the parasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei. which is transmitted by direct skin contact. The scabies mite burrows into the skin causing itching as it burrows which can be intense and is often worse at night.  Within two to six weeks after infection the mite can cause an allergic reaction with symptoms including a rash, seen as small red bumps on the limbs and trunk, which are usually very itchy; also nodules in the groin or armpit.  Burrow lines can also be seen at the site of infection, usually between the fingers, on the skin of the hands, feet, wrist, elbows, buttocks and genitals.  If left untreated scabies infection can cause secondary complications like impetigo (infection and inflammation of superficial skin cells) and cellulitis (inflammation of the lower dermal or subcutaneous skin layers).  Ivermectin in Stromectol tablets 3mg works by interacting directly and specifically with the nervous system of the parasite but does not affect mammals.   Ivermectin binds with high affinity to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate (GluCl) regulated chloride channels in invertebrate nerve and muscle cells, causing paralysis and death of the parasite.  Stromectol tablets 3mg are effective in interrupting the infectious cycle and helping to prevent spread of infection.

Covid-19

In 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic began, the search for new agents to treat the virus began with the development of a new vaccine being a core objective. Concurrent with this goal was the search to find an effective treatment amongst existing medications already part of a physicians’ treatment arsenal.

Given the urgency of the situation with regard to developing and testing a vaccine, concerns remain around its effectiveness to treat the infection and save lives, its effectiveness against emerging strains of the virus and its short-term and long-term safety profile.

Initial reports that a treatment protocol using hydroxychloroquine and antibiotics appeared promising, but it now appears that ivermectin is both more effective and has a better safety record.

Treatment of Covid-19 is considered an off-label use for Stromectol (Ivermectin) tablets 3mg. Please contact your doctor for advice on treatment with Ivermectin and all Covid-19 related matters.

As a prevention treatment for high risk individuals such as medical staff or those in close contact with Covid-19 patients a dose of ivermectin 0.2mg/kg of body weight is taken on day one, with a second dose in 48 hours followed by a dose every 14 days. 

Please contact us if you need assistance calculating ivermectin dosages for your body weight.

Kilograms	Pounds	Tablets	Strength
35-45	77-99	3	9mg
46-53	100-116	3.5	10.5mg
54-60	117-132	4	12mg
61-68	133-149	4.5	13.5mg
69-75	150-165	5	15mg
76-83	166-182	5.5	16.5mg
84-90	183-198	6	18mg
91-98	199-215	6.5	19.5mg
99-105	216-231	7	21mg
106-113	232-248	7.5	22.5mg
114-120	249-264	8	24mg
121-128	265-281	8.5	25.5mg
129-135	282-297	9	27mg
136-143	298-314	9.5	28.5mg

As a prevention treatment for those exposed to Covid-19 the same treatment is given - a dose of ivermectin 0.2mg/kg of body weight is taken on day one, with a second dose in 48 hours.

An outpatient protocol has been developed for those in the early stages of infection. A single daily dose of 0.2mg/Kg for at least two days but no greater than five days is recommended.

Additionally, Vitamin D3 (4000 iu/day), Vitamin C (1000mg twice daily), Zinc (50-100mg daily) are recommended. We recommend that you seek advice from your doctor and further information from the Front Line Covid-19 Critical Care Alliance website for more details if you are in a high risk situation.

What are the side effects of Stromectol?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Stromectol tablets 3mg include, transient tachycardia (fast heart rate), flushing, nausea, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, itching skin rash, asthenia (weakness), lightheadedness, dizziness, somnolence, vertigo, tremor.

When should Stromectol not be used?

You should not use Stromectol tablets 3mg if you:

• are allergic to ivermectin or any ingredients in Stromectol
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• want to prevent infection with filarial worms as it is not used for prophylaxis
• have another infection with other microfilarial worms such as loa loa as this increase risk of side effects
• have asthma
• are taking medicines that interact with Stromectol including diethylcarbamazine citrate a rapid action drug for microfilarial infections, warfarin

What medications interact with Stromectol?

Several medications interact with Stromectol tablets 3mg and should either not be taken while you are taking Stromectol or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that cause a serious reaction with Stromectol: diethylcarbamazine citrate a rapid action drug for microfilarial infections can cause cutaneous, systemic reactions or ophthalmological reactions; warfarin as ivermectin may have a mild anticoagulant effect and therefore, this increases risk of bleeding

How should Stromectol be taken?

You should take your Stromectol tablets 3mg swallowed whole with a glass of water on an empty stomach, either 2 hours before or 2 hours after eating.  The dose you take and how often depends on what you are being treated for, your body weight (200 micrograms per kilogram body weight) and your doctor’s recommendation.  For strongyloidiasis and scabies a single dose is recommended.  If the scabies infection does not clear up, another dose can be given after 2 weeks. For lymphatic filariasis a single dose is recommended and repeated every 6 or 12 months.

How long should you take Stromectol?

You should take your Stromectol tablets 3mg according to your doctor’s recommendation, which is a single oral dose that may be repeated after 6 -12 months or after 2 weeks, depending on what you are being treated for.

How should Stromectol be stored?

You should store your Stromectol tablets 3mg below 30°C in a cool dry place.