Ivermectin as a Potential Addition to the Limited Anti-COVID-19 Arsenal: A Double-Blinded Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background: Addressing the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic remains a significant challenge for healthcare systems globally. Despite the absence of a proven cure, ivermectin has been proposed as a potentially effective agent against it. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of ivermectin compared to a placebo group in non-critically ill confirmed COVID-19 patients. Methods: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted on 110 patients with moderate-to-severe (non-critical) confirmed COVID-19 infection. The patients were equally divided into two groups, with one group receiving ivermectin tablets (14 mg every 12 hours for three days) and the other group receiving a placebo. The efficacy and safety of ivermectin were assessed in both groups. Results: A total of 110 patients, including 62 (56.4%) men and 48 (43.6%) women, with an average age of 53.36 ± 15.10 years, were enrolled in our double-blind, randomized clinical trial. The baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar. The findings demonstrated that ivermectin significantly reduced the need for Intensive Care Unit admission (32.7% vs. 5.5%; P < 0.001), hospitalization duration (six vs. four days; P < 0.001), and median time to symptom resolution period (P < 0.05) in COVID-19 patients compared to the placebo group, without any serious side effects (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Ivermectin appears to be a potentially effective and safe medication for COVID-19 patients with moderate disease.