Ivermectin, Hydroxychloroquine Prescriptions Surged During COVID-19 Pandemic Despite Evidence Refuting Their Efficacy, Study Finds

Medical Economics (2/27, Littrell) reports a study found that “prescription rates for hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin surged to unprecedented levels during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite substantial evidence refuting their efficacy.” Researchers determined that “nearly three million outpatient prescriptions were written for the two drugs from January 2020 to June 2023 – totaling approximately $272 million in spending.” But when the FDA authorized COVID-19 treatments like Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir), “ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine use dropped by 93% in outpatient settings – although prescriptions did persist.” The study was published in Health Affairs.