Washington, DC – September 15, 2021 – The Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP Global) joins members of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), along with the American Medical Association (AMA), in warning against the ordering, prescribing, or dispensing of ivermectin to prevent or treat COVID-19 outside of a clinical trial.

Most often used to treat parasites in animals, ivermectin is not approved to prevent or treat the coronavirus. ASOP Global is deeply concerned by the proliferation of websites spreading misinformation and marketing ivermectin as a preventative, cure, and treatment for COVID-19. These sites expose unsuspecting consumers to fraud and serious health risks by encouraging dangerous off-label use of a potent medication that can be highly toxic if not taken as prescribed.

ASOP Global stands with APhA, ASHP, and the AMA and urges physicians, pharmacists, and other prescribers to warn patients not to use ivermectin outside of FDA-approved indications or purchase ivermectin from online marketplaces. As trusted messengers, health care professionals are the first line of defense for halting the epidemic of misinformation about ivermectin and COVID-19 in their communities.

For patients, the Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization remain reliable sources for accurate information about COVID-19 treatments. Additionally, ASOP Global’s website provides further resources for how to stay safe and save when buying any medicine online.

###

ABOUT ASOP GLOBAL

The Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP Global), a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. with activities in U.S., Canada, Europe, Latin America, and Asia, is dedicated to protecting consumers around the world, ensuring safe access to medications, and combating illegal online drug sellers.