Prescription medication · Antiparasitic
ivermectin
Also sold as Stromectol. Ivermectin treats strongyloidiasis, an infection in your intestines caused by a roundworm parasite.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 5,936
- FDA reportsLightly reported
- 1
- InteractionFew interactions
- 71% less
- Generic vs brandBig savings
- $4.43
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
ivermectin (Stromectol) is a prescription Antiparasitic, reported less often than most tracked drugs (5,936 FDA reports), whose generic runs roughly half the brand price or less (71% less).
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
ivermectin (Stromectol) is a prescription Antiparasitic. Ivermectin treats strongyloidiasis, an infection in your intestines caused by a roundworm parasite.
Ivermectin is a medicine used to treat infections caused by certain parasitic worms. It works by paralyzing and killing these worms.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$4.43/unit
Generic Price
$1.28/unit
Generic Savings
71%
Generic Available
Yes (8 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Ivermectin treats strongyloidiasis, an infection in your intestines caused by a roundworm parasite.
Common side effects
Itching, Skin rash, Fever
Key warnings
Ivermectin can cause Mazzotti reactions in people being treated for onchocerciasis.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from ivermectin's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Ivermectin belongs to a class of drugs called anthelmintics. It works by binding to certain nerve and muscle cells of the parasite. This binding paralyzes the parasite, which leads to its death and removal from the body.
How to Take It
Take ivermectin tablets on an empty stomach with water. For strongyloidiasis, you usually only need one dose. For onchocerciasis, you may need repeat doses every 3 to 12 months. Your doctor will determine the right dose and schedule for you based on your weight and the infection being treated.
This is a plain-language summary of ivermectin's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
It is not known if ivermectin can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if ivermectin passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
This is a plain-language summary of ivermectin's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
This is a plain-language summary of ivermectin's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store ivermectin tablets at room temperature, below 86°F (30°C).
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 5,936 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for ivermectin, by number of reports
- Headache
Headache
634 reports
- Weakness
Weakness
588 reports
- Fever
Fever
484 reports
- Itching
Itching
374 reports
- Diarrhea
Diarrhea
286 reports
- Redness of the eyes
Redness of the eyes
255 reports
- Coma 246
Coma
246 reports
- Bleeding in the eye 238
Bleeding in the eye
238 reports
- Skin redness 237
Skin redness
237 reports
- Back pain 225
Back pain
225 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for ivermectin each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where ivermectin sits
ivermectin has more FDA adverse-event reports than 28% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is ivermectin; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 5,936 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
5,936
Reports Mentioning Death
540
9.1% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
2,144
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | HEADACHE | 634 |
| 3 | ASTHENIA | 588 |
| 4 | PYREXIA | 484 |
| 7 | PRURITUS | 374 |
| 8 | DIARRHOEA | 286 |
| 9 | OCULAR HYPERAEMIA | 255 |
| 10 | COMA | 246 |
| 11 | CONJUNCTIVAL HAEMORRHAGE | 238 |
| 12 | ERYTHEMA | 237 |
| 13 | BACK PAIN | 225 |
| 14 | VERTIGO | 217 |
| 15 | ARTHRALGIA | 203 |
| 16 | VOMITING | 197 |
| 17 | RASH | 194 |
| 18 | FATIGUE | 169 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Ivermectin can cause Mazzotti reactions in people being treated for onchocerciasis. These reactions include skin rash, itching, swelling, fever, and lymph node tenderness.
Known Drug Interactions
Drug Interactions Post-marketing reports of increased INR (International Normalized Ratio) have been rarely reported when ivermectin was co-administered with warfarin.
Mechanism: Taking ivermectin with warfarin can increase the blood-thinning effects of the warfarin. This may make you more likely to bleed or bruise easily.
What to do: Your doctor should check your blood clotting levels (INR) more frequently if you are prescribed ivermectin while taking warfarin.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
Can I take ivermectin with food?
How often will I need to take ivermectin?
What should I do if I experience side effects?
Can ivermectin be used to prevent COVID-19?
Is ivermectin safe for everyone?
Will ivermectin kill the adult worms causing my infection?
What should I do if I take too much ivermectin?
Can I drive or operate machinery while taking ivermectin?
Does ivermectin interact with other medications?
How will I know if the ivermectin is working?
What are the common side effects of ivermectin?
Does ivermectin interact with other medications?
What drug class is ivermectin?
Is there a generic version of ivermectin?
Is ivermectin safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Antiparasitic
Other drugs grouped near ivermectin - same-class peers and common alternatives.
acyclovir
Zovirax
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albendazole
Albenza
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amphotericin B
Ambisome, Fungizone
Amphotericin B liposome is an antifungal medicine.
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anidulafungin
Eraxis
Eraxis is an antifungal medicine.
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atovaquone/proguanil
Malarone
Malarone is a drug used to prevent and treat malaria.
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Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for ivermectin
The FDA label for ivermectin (sold under brand names such as Stromectol) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Antiparasitic class. Ivermectin treats strongyloidiasis, an infection in your intestines caused by a roundworm parasite. Official labeling lists 6 commonly reported side effects, including Itching, Skin rash, Fever.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 5,936 voluntary reports. The database also lists 1 documented drug interaction derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $1.28 versus $4.43 for the brand - a 71% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: October 5, 2023
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages