Ivermectin oral tablet interactions: A detailed guide

Key takeaways

• Ivermectin oral tablets may interact with certain medications, herbs, vitamins, foods, vaccines, and health conditions, so it’s important to discuss your current medications and health history with your doctor.
• While ivermectin oral tablets aren’t known to interact with alcohol, cannabis, or CBD, using them together could worsen potential side effects, so consult your doctor before combining them.
• The risk of interactions may vary depending on whether ivermectin is taken as a single dose for approved uses or in multiple doses for off-label purposes, so discuss your specific treatment plan with your doctor or pharmacist.

Overview

This article describes possible interactions with ivermectin oral tablet. Interactions can cause a drug to have a different effect on the body than expected. Interactions can occur due to medications, alcohol, or certain health conditions.

Ivermectin comes as tablets that you’ll swallow. It’s also available as a topical cream and topical lotion. Ivermectin drug interactions in humans may vary depending on the form of ivermectin you’re prescribed.

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Other drugs and ivermectin

The drugs in the list below may interact with ivermectin oral tablet. This article doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with ivermectin.

Drug classes or drugs that may interact with ivermectin oral tablet include:

• certain antifungals:
  • drug examples: posaconazole and ketoconazole
  • what might happen: can increase the risk of side effects of ivermectin
• idelalisib (Zydelig):
  • what might happen: can increase the risk of side effects of ivermectin
• mirabegron:
  • what might happen: can increase the risk of side effects of ivermectin
• warfarin:
  • what might happen: can increase the effect and risk of side effects of warfarin

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When to avoid ivermectin

Certain health conditions or other factors could increase some risks with ivermectin oral tablet. Because of this, doctors may not prescribe ivermectin in these cases. These health conditions or other factors are called contraindications.

Here’s a contraindication for ivermectin oral tablet:

• Past allergic reaction to ivermectin. If you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to ivermectin oral tablet, taking it again may cause another allergic reaction.

Before you start using ivermectin, tell your doctor if the ivermectin contraindication listed above relates to you. They can recommend whether you should take ivermectin.

Alcohol and ivermectin

Ivermectin oral tablet is not known to interact with alcohol.

That said, if you have certain side effects from taking ivermectin, drinking alcohol could worsen them. Examples of these side effects include diarrhea, fatigue (low energy), and nausea.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it while taking ivermectin oral tablet.

Other interactions and ivermectin

Interactions can occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, and some lab tests. Below, you can learn whether the ivermectin oral tablet has these interactions.

The information below doesn’t include all other possible interactions with ivermectin.

Ivermectin and supplements

Before taking ivermectin oral tablet, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs you take, as well as vitamins and supplements. Doing so may help you avoid interactions.

If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Ivermectin interactions with herbs

Ivermectin oral tablet isn’t known to interact with any herbs. But this doesn’t mean interactions with herbs can’t happen or won’t be identified later.

Because of this, ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while taking ivermectin oral tablet.

Ivermectin interactions with vitamins

Ivermectin oral tablet isn’t known to interact with any vitamins. But this doesn’t mean interactions with vitamins can’t happen or won’t be identified later.

Because of this, ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while taking ivermectin oral tablet. They can notify you if any ivermectin interactions with vitamins are discovered.

Ivermectin and food

Ivermectin oral tablet isn’t known to interact with foods. But this doesn’t mean interactions with foods can’t happen or won’t be identified later.

Because of this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about what foods you should avoid while taking ivermectin oral tablet.

Ivermectin and vaccines

Ivermectin oral tablet isn’t known to interact with any vaccines. But this doesn’t mean interactions with vaccines can’t happen or won’t be identified later.

Because of this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before receiving any vaccines while taking ivermectin oral tablet.

Ivermectin and lab tests

Ivermectin oral tablet isn’t known to interact with lab tests. But this doesn’t mean interactions with lab tests can’t happen or won’t be identified later.

Because of this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before having any tests while taking ivermectin oral tablet.

Ivermectin and cannabis or CBD

Ivermectin oral tablet isn’t known to interact with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But this doesn’t mean interactions can’t happen or won’t be identified later.

As with any drug or supplement, tell your doctor before taking cannabis with ivermectin.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at the federal level, but is legal in many states to varying degrees.

Health factors and ivermectin

Certain medical conditions or other health factors may increase the risk of interactions with ivermectin oral tablet. Keep in mind that interactions could lead to side effects or affect how well the drug works. Before taking ivermectin, tell your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether ivermectin is right for you.

These health conditions or other factors might interact with ivermectin oral tablet:

• HIV
• liver conditions, such as alcohol-associated liver disease
• loiasis, which may also be called African eye worm
• pregnancy or breastfeeding
• past allergic reaction to ivermectin

Questions about ivermectin and interactions

Here you’ll find answers to some common questions about ivermectin and possible interactions.

Does ivermectin oral tablet have different interactions than ivermectin topical cream?

Yes, ivermectin oral tablet has different interactions than ivermectin topical cream.

There are currently no reported interactions with ivermectin topical cream. Ivermectin topical cream is applied as a small amount onto areas of your face affected by rosacea. The cream isn’t expected to be significantly absorbed by your body, so this lowers the risk of interactions.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’d like to know more about how ivermectin oral tablet and topical cream compare.

Do interactions with ivermectin depend on how long treatment lasts?

Possibly. Ivermectin is approved to treat certain infections caused by parasites. A single dose of the drug is usually enough to treat these infections. And, because only one ivermectin dose is taken, the risk of interactions is low.

However, doctors may prescribe ivermectin off-label for other uses. With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved for. This may involve taking more ivermectin than a single dose. Interactions may differ when ivermectin is used off-label in this way.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have additional questions about your risk of interactions with ivermectin based on your treatment plan.

Preventing ivermectin interactions

You may be able to help avoid certain interactions with ivermectin oral tablet. Before taking this drug, you may want to discuss possible interactions with your doctor and pharmacist.

Things to consider include:

• Whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
• Other medications and herbs you take, as well as vitamins and supplements. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you fill out a medication list.
• What to do if you’re prescribed a new drug while taking ivermectin oral tablet.

Taking ivermectin exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.

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Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.