Gov. Kim Reynolds is proposing that Iowa join a small number of states that allow pharmacists to sell ivermectin over the counter.
Ivermectin is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat certain parasitic infections in humans, including intestinal worms and head lice. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some people began purchasing ivermectin intended for livestock after claims circulated that it could treat the virus.
Reynolds says she has received questions from Iowans about whether the drug could be made available without a prescription.
The legislation proposed by Reynolds has not yet been posted in the Iowa Legislature’s online system. The Food and Drug Administration says it has not authorized or approved ivermectin for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 in humans and reports that some patients have required medical attention after using ivermectin intended for animals.
