(eye ver MEK tin)
Treatment of the following infections: Strongyloidiasis of the intestinal tract due to the nematode parasite Strongyloides stercoralis. Onchocerciasis due to the immature form of the nematode parasite Onchocerca volvulus
Hypersensitivity to ivermectin or any component of the formulation
Onchocerciasis: Oral: 150 mcg/kg as a single dose; retreatment may be required every 3-12 months until asymptomatic
Strongyloidiasis: Oral:
Manufacturers labeling: 200 mcg/kg as a single dose; perform follow-up stool examinations.
Alternative dosing: 200 mcg/kg/day for 2 days (CDC 2012)
Ascariasis due to Ascaris lumbricoides (off-label use): Oral: 200 mcg/kg as a single dose (Marti 1996; Naquira 1989)
Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) due to Ancylostoma braziliense (off-label use): Oral: 200 mcg/kg as a single dose (Vanhaecke 2013)
Demodicosis due to Demodex folliculorumand Demodex brevis (off-label use): Oral: 200 mcg/kg as a single dose, followed by topical permethrin (Eismann 2010)
Filariasis due to Mansonella ozzardi (off-label use): Oral: 6 mg as a single dose (Gonzales 1999)
Filariasis due to Mansonella streptocerca(off-label use): Oral: 150 mcg/kg as a single dose (Fischer 1997)
Filariasis due to Wucheria bancrofti(off-label use): Oral: 200-400 mcg/kg as a single dose in combination with albendazole (Addiss 1997; Ismail 2001)
Gnathostomiasis due to Gnathostoma spinigerum(off-label use): Oral: 200 mcg/kg as a single dose (Nontasut 2000; Kraivichian 2004)
Lice due toPediculus humanus capitis, Pediculus humanus corporis, Pediculus pubis(off-label use): Oral: Note: Treatment generally requires >1 dose; number of doses and dosage intervals have not been established
Pediculus humanus capitis: Oral: 400 mcg/kg/dose every 7 days for 2 doses (Chosidow 2010)
Pediculus humanus corporis: Oral: 200 mcg/kg/dose every 7 days for 3 doses (Foucault 2006)
Pediculosis pubis (pubic lice): Oral: 250 mcg/kg/dose every 7 days for 2 doses (Burkhart 2004) or 250 mcg/kg/dose every 14 days for 2 doses (CDC [Workowski 2015])
Scabies due to Sarcoptes scabiei (off-label use):
Immunocompromised or immunocompetent patients: Oral: 200 mcg/kg as a single dose (CDC [Workowski 2015]; Meinking 1995); repeat dose in 7 to 14 days (CDC 2016; CDC [Workowski 2015])
Crusted scabies (Norwegian Scabies): Oral: 200 mcg/kg as a single dose on days 1, 2, 8, 9, and 15 in combination with topical permethrin 5% cream. Severe cases may require additional ivermectin treatment on days 22 and 29 (CDC [Workowski 2015]; CDC 2016).
Trichuriasis due to Trichuris trichiura (off-label use): Oral: 200 mcg/kg as a single dose on day 1; may repeat dose on day 4 (Naquira 1989)
Refer to adult dosing.
Parasitic infections: Oral: Children ≥15 kg: Refer to adult dosing.
No dosage adjustment provided in manufacturer 's labeling.
No dosage adjustment provided in manufacturer 's labeling.
Oral: Administer on an empty stomach with water.
Use of ivermectin for pediculosis pubis is recommended to be taken with food to increase bioavailability in the epidermis (CDC [Workowski 2015]).
Take on an empty stomach with water.
Store at <30 ‚ °C (86 ‚ °F).
Excipient information presented when available (limited, particularly for generics); consult specific product labeling.
Tablet, Oral:
Stromectol: 3 mg
Generic: 3 mg
Azithromycin (Systemic): May increase the serum concentration of Ivermectin (Systemic). Monitor therapy
BCG (Intravesical): Antibiotics may diminish the therapeutic effect of BCG (Intravesical). Avoid combination
BCG Vaccine (Immunization): Antibiotics may diminish the therapeutic effect of BCG Vaccine (Immunization). Monitor therapy
Cholera Vaccine: Antibiotics may diminish the therapeutic effect of Cholera Vaccine. Avoid combination
Lactobacillus and Estriol: Antibiotics may diminish the therapeutic effect of Lactobacillus and Estriol. Monitor therapy
Lumacaftor: May decrease the serum concentration of P-glycoprotein/ABCB1 Substrates. Lumacaftor may increase the serum concentration of P-glycoprotein/ABCB1 Substrates. Monitor therapy
P-glycoprotein/ABCB1 Inducers: May decrease the serum concentration of P-glycoprotein/ABCB1 Substrates. P-glycoprotein inducers may also further limit the distribution of p-glycoprotein substrates to specific cells/tissues/organs where p-glycoprotein is present in large amounts (e.g., brain, T-lymphocytes, testes, etc.). Monitor therapy
P-glycoprotein/ABCB1 Inhibitors: May increase the serum concentration of P-glycoprotein/ABCB1 Substrates. P-glycoprotein inhibitors may also enhance the distribution of p-glycoprotein substrates to specific cells/tissues/organs where p-glycoprotein is present in large amounts (e.g., brain, T-lymphocytes, testes, etc.). Monitor therapy
Ranolazine: May increase the serum concentration of P-glycoprotein/ABCB1 Substrates. Monitor therapy
Sodium Picosulfate: Antibiotics may diminish the therapeutic effect of Sodium Picosulfate. Management: Consider using an alternative product for bowel cleansing prior to a colonoscopy in patients who have recently used or are concurrently using an antibiotic. Consider therapy modification
Typhoid Vaccine: Antibiotics may diminish the therapeutic effect of Typhoid Vaccine. Only the live attenuated Ty21a strain is affected. Management: Vaccination with live attenuated typhoid vaccine (Ty21a) should be avoided in patients being treated with systemic antibacterial agents. Use of this vaccine should be postponed until at least 3 days after cessation of antibacterial agents. Consider therapy modification
Vitamin K Antagonists (eg, warfarin): Ivermectin (Systemic) may enhance the anticoagulant effect of Vitamin K Antagonists. Monitor therapy
Skin and eye microfilarial counts, periodic ophthalmologic exams; follow up stool examinations
>10%: Miscellaneous: Mazzotti-type reaction (with onchocerciasis): Pruritus (28%), fever (23%), skin involvement (23%; including edema/urticarial rash), lymph node tenderness (1% to 14%), lymph node enlargement (3% to 13%), arthralgia/synovitis (9%)
1% to 10%:
Cardiovascular: Tachycardia (4%), peripheral edema (3%), facial edema (1%), orthostatic hypotension (1%)
Central nervous system: Dizziness (3%)
Dermatologic: Pruritus (3%)
Gastrointestinal: Diarrhea (2%), nausea (2%)
Hematologic: Eosinophilia (3%), leukocytes decreased (3%), hemoglobin increased (1%)
Hepatic: ALT increased (2%), AST increased (2%)
<1% (Limited to important or life-threatening): Abdominal distention, abdominal pain, anemia, anorexia, anterior uveitis, asthma exacerbation, back pain, bilirubin increased, chest discomfort, chorioretinitis, choroiditis, coma, confusion, conjunctival hemorrhage (associated with onchocerciasis), conjunctivitis, constipation, dyspnea, encephalopathy (rare; associated with loiasis), eyelid edema, eye sensation abnormal, fatigue, fecal incontinence, headache, hepatitis, hypotension, INR increased (with concomitant warfarin), keratitis, lethargy, leukopenia, mental status changes, myalgia, neck pain, rash, red eye, seizure, somnolence, standing/walking difficulty, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, stupor, toxic epidermal necrolysis, tremor, urinary incontinence, urticaria, vertigo, vision loss (transient), vomiting, weakness
Concerns related to adverse effects:
- Cutaneous/systemic reactions: Data have shown that antihelmintic drugs like ivermectin may cause cutaneous and/or systemic reactions (Mazzoti reaction) of varying severity including ophthalmological reactions in patients with onchocerciasis. These reactions are probably due to allergic and inflammatory responses to the death of microfilariae. Patients with hyper-reactive onchodermatitis may be more likely than others to experience severe adverse reactions, especially edema and aggravation of the onchodermatitis.
Disease-related concerns:
- Loiasis: Pretreatment assessment for Loa loa infection is recommended in any patient with significant exposure to endemic areas (West and Central Africa); serious and/or fatal encephalopathy has been reported (rarely) during treatment in patients with loiasis.
Special populations:
- Immunocompromised patients: Repeated treatment may be required in immunocompromised patients (eg, HIV); control of extraintestinal strongyloidiasis may necessitate suppressive (once monthly) therapy.
Other warnings/precautions:
- Appropriate use: Onchocerca volvulus: Ivermectin has no activity against adult O. volvulus parasites.
C
Adverse events have been observed in animal reproduction studies. Although use in pregnancy is likely low risk, other agents are currently recommended for the treatment of pediculosis pubis or scabies in pregnant women (CDC [Workowski 2015]).
Ivermectin is a semisynthetic anthelminthic agent; it binds selectively and with strong affinity to glutamate-gated chloride ion channels which occur in invertebrate nerve and muscle cells. This leads to increased permeability of cell membranes to chloride ions then hyperpolarization of the nerve or muscle cell, and death of the parasite.
Well absorbed
Vd: 3-3.5 L/kg (healthy males); high concentration in the liver and adipose tissue; does not readily cross the blood-brain barrier in patients >15 kg or >2 years
Hepatic via CYP3A4 (major), CYP2D6 (minor), and CYP2E1 (minor)
Feces; urine (<1%)
Peak effect in treatment of onchocerciasis: 3-6 months
Peak effect in treatment of strongyloides: 3 months
~4 hours
18 hours (range: 16-35 hours)
~93% primarily to albumin
- Discuss specific use of drug and side effects with patient as it relates to treatment. (HCAHPS: During this hospital stay, were you given any medicine that you had not taken before? Before giving you any new medicine, how often did hospital staff tell you what the medicine was for? How often did hospital staff describe possible side effects in a way you could understand?)
- Patient may experience itching. Have patient report immediately to prescriber signs of infection, tachycardia, severe dizziness, passing out, vision changes, eye pain, severe eye irritation, severe skin irritation, joint pain, edema, enlarged lymph nodes, or signs of severe brain problems in patients with Loa-Loa infection (rare) (HCAHPS).
- Educate patient about signs of a significant reaction (eg, wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat). Note: This is not a comprehensive list of all side effects. Patient should consult prescriber for additional questions.
Intended Use and Disclaimer: Should not be printed and given to patients. This information is intended to serve as a concise initial reference for healthcare professionals to use when discussing medications with a patient. You must ultimately rely on your own discretion, experience and judgment in diagnosing, treating and advising patients.