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 →

Compare with Another Drug → Full Side Effects Report →

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.

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

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.

Source FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) As of 2025

Reports over time

Adverse-event reports filed for ivermectin each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

0200400600800 20042007201020132016201920222025 617

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.

fewest reports most reports

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

Female 2,666 (52%)
Male 2,392 (47%)

Age Distribution

0–17 303
18–44 1,300
45–64 1,362
65–74 579
75+ 521

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

DEATH 99
STRONGYLOIDIASIS 61
COMA 55
PYREXIA 50
SEPTIC SHOCK 48
ASTHENIA 45
MULTIPLE ORGAN DYSFUNCTION SYNDROME 42
SEPSIS 37
RESPIRATORY FAILURE 32
DRUG REACTION WITH EOSINOPHILIA AND SYSTEMIC SYMPTOMS 31

Reactions in Hospitalization Reports

ASTHENIA 538
HEADACHE 493
PYREXIA 426
OCULAR HYPERAEMIA 240
CONJUNCTIVAL HAEMORRHAGE 238
COMA 229
BACK PAIN 202
DIARRHOEA 202
VERTIGO 200
ARTHRALGIA 147

Source: 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

minor warfarin

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.

This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.

Common Questions

Can I take ivermectin with food?
No, you should take ivermectin on an empty stomach with water.
How often will I need to take ivermectin?
For strongyloidiasis, you usually only need one dose. For onchocerciasis, you may need repeat doses every 3 to 12 months.
What should I do if I experience side effects?
Tell your doctor if you experience any side effects while taking ivermectin.
Can ivermectin be used to prevent COVID-19?
Ivermectin is not approved to treat or prevent COVID-19.
Is ivermectin safe for everyone?
You should not take ivermectin if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.
Will ivermectin kill the adult worms causing my infection?
No, ivermectin only kills the juvenile worms. For onchocerciasis, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the adult worms.
What should I do if I take too much ivermectin?
Seek medical attention immediately.
Can I drive or operate machinery while taking ivermectin?
Ivermectin can cause dizziness, so use caution when driving or operating machinery until you know how the medicine affects you.
Does ivermectin interact with other medications?
Ivermectin can interact with warfarin, potentially increasing the risk of bleeding. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take.
How will I know if the ivermectin is working?
Your doctor will perform follow-up tests to check if the infection has been cleared.
What are the common side effects of ivermectin?
The registry lists Itching, Skin rash, Fever, Swelling of lymph nodes, Joint pain among the most-reported FAERS reaction terms for ivermectin. The compiled record contains 5,936 FDA adverse-event reports. These counts are not an individual symptom assessment.
Does ivermectin interact with other medications?
The registry has 1 documented interaction rows for ivermectin. Notable source-record pairings include warfarin. These rows are not a complete medication review.
What drug class is ivermectin?
ivermectin belongs to the Antiparasitic drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). Ivermectin treats strongyloidiasis, an infection in your intestines caused by a roundworm parasite.
Is there a generic version of ivermectin?
Yes, generic ivermectin is available from 8 manufacturers. The generic costs $1.28 per unit compared to $4.43 for the brand version, saving approximately 71%. Pricing is based on NADAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost) data from CMS.
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for ivermectin?
The FDA label for ivermectin contains product-specific pregnancy or breastfeeding language. PlainMeds does not apply that source text to an individual.

Related Medications in Antiparasitic

Other drugs grouped near ivermectin - same-class peers and common alternatives.

acyclovir

Zovirax

Acyclovir is an antiviral medicine.

Compare with ivermectin →

albendazole

Albenza

Albendazole is a medicine that fights parasites.

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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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Compare ivermectin vs acyclovir side-by-side →

Compare beyond drug class

Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share

Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for ivermectin: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.

Similar FAERS report volume

Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 5,936.

4 peers

Similar death-report share

Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 9.10%.

4 peers

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

FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines

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 are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.

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. This registry does not provide medication decisions.

Last updated: October 5, 2023

PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.

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 from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.

All federal data sources used on this page