The FDA realized it was stepping out of its lane throughout the COVID-19 pandemic when the organization went into “misinformation” overdrive and flagged social media posts from doctors and patients who successfully used Ivermectin to treat the virus. Now, in a decision you’ve probably not heard, the FDA is removing its posts that mocked doctors and patients using Ivermectin for treatment during COVID.
The controversy surrounding ivermectin amid the COVID-19 pandemic stemmed from its promotion as a potential treatment for the virus. Ivermectin, used for treating parasitic infections in livestock, garnered attention following initial studies suggesting its potential against COVID-19.
Health authorities, including the FDA and the now-disgraced Dr. Anthony Fauci, cautioned against using ivermectin for COVID-19, particularly animal formulations, citing potential toxicity and severe side effects. While it is true that the animal formulations were not cleared for use in humans, there is an FDA-approved version approved for human use in the treatment of many parasitic diseases, including roundworms, lice, and river blindness. It is used for other non-parasitic conditions as well, such as rosacea.
Physicians who dared to prescribe this effective and affordable treatment found themselves the victims of smear campaigns, silenced on social media, or worse. Some doctors, like Florida’s Dr. John Littell, had their certifications stripped by the American Board of Family Medicine despite the effectiveness of Ivermectin treatment for COVID in their patients.
Littell explained, “I got disciplined for giving ivermectin, which got a young mom out of the hospital in three days when she would have died.”
Furthermore, the ABFM charged Littell with disseminating “untruthful and deceptive statements” regarding ivermectin on his website and Rumble channel.
In 2021, the FDA took to social media to refute claims of Ivermectin’s COVID-19 treatment efficacy, posting things like “You are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously, y’all. Stop it,” “You are not a horse. Stop it with #ivermectin. It’s not authorized for treating #COVID,” and “Hold your horses, y’all. Ivermectin may be trending, but it still isn’t authorized or approved to treat COVID-19.” In their COVID-19 Q&A section, the FDA unapologetically said “no” to Ivermectin’s use as a treatment.
Of course, the reality was different. Many patients, including ultra-liberal podcast host Joe Rogan and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, successfully used Ivermectin to treat COVID. Both faced heavy criticism for their decision, including mockery by CNN. But even CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta later confessed that he and others were wrong to downplay the treatment’s success.
In 2022, three doctors from Texas sued the FDA, claiming that the organization had kept them from practicing effective medicine for patients by downplaying Ivermectin’s role as a potential treatment for COVID-19. Initially, a federal judge dismissed their case, claiming the FDA had “sovereign immunity” to recommend medical treatments. The case was then taken to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled that the “FDA is not a physician.” Per the ruling, “Even tweet-sized doses of personalized medical advice are beyond the FDA’s statutory authority.”
The FDA removed its posts, saying that the agency chose this course of action rather than continue to argue over posts made years ago. However, the organization also insisted that it did nothing wrong and disagreed with the ruling that said it had exceeded its authority.
Hydroxychloroquine, originally used to treat malaria and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, was explored as a potential treatment for COVID-19 early in the pandemic. Some initial studies suggested it might be effective early in the disease’s course. However, the FDA also railed against using this treatment, claiming it was ineffective despite anecdotal evidence proving otherwise.
But if Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine worked, why was the FDA so vehemently opposed to these treatments? Follow the money.
The expenses associated with ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine for treating COVID-19 were notably lower compared to pharmaceutical options endorsed by the FDA. Ivermectin treatment was estimated to range from about $0.60 to $1.80 for a 5-day course. Hydroxychloroquine, priced at around 37 cents per pill, amounted to a total treatment cost of under $20.
In contrast, FDA-recommended options like the antiviral drug Remdesivir came at a much higher expense, with reports indicating a price of $3100. Paxlovid, another FDA-approved oral antiviral pill, was estimated to cost $529 per treatment.
Pfizer reported nearly $19 billion in revenue from its antiviral treatment Paxlovid, making it a rather promising investment for those paying attention. The FDA should own up to its role in the murder of millions of people who would have benefitted from less conventional treatments, as it seems the agency was far more interested in their wallets than in saving American lives.
