During the COVID-19 pandemic, two drugs, hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, became popular among people in the US. These drugs were used to treat COVID-19, even though they were originally meant for other things. The use of these drugs was not well understood, especially among different groups of people.  A study looked at insurance claims from 8. 1 million people across the US. This study covered a period from January 30, 2020, to May 11, 2023. The study found that about three million prescriptions were written for these drugs, costing around $272 million.

        The use of these drugs was much higher in older adults compared to younger ones. The use of ivermectin was higher in areas with more social problems and in the southern US. This information can help make better policies to stop the use of these drugs when they are not proven to work. People should be aware that these drugs are not proven to work against COVID-19.

        It is important to note that the use of these drugs was not always safe or effective. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved other drugs for COVID-19 in December 2021 and January 2022. These drugs were ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir, molnupiravir, and remdesivir. Only 7% of the prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin were written after these drugs were approved. This means that most people were still using hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin even after better options were available.

        The study also found that the use of these drugs was not evenly spread across the country. The southern US had more use of ivermectin than other regions. This could be because of differences in healthcare access or beliefs about COVID-19 treatments. It is important to understand these differences to make sure that everyone has access to safe and effective treatments.

        The study also looked at how these drugs were used in different groups of people. The use of hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin was higher in older adults. This could be because older adults are more likely to have other health problems and may be more likely to try new treatments. The use of ivermectin was higher in areas with more social problems. This could be because these areas may have less access to healthcare or may be more likely to try new treatments.

        The study also found that the use of these drugs was not always safe or effective. The FDA has not approved hydroxychloroquine or ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19. This means that these drugs are not proven to work against COVID-19. People should be aware that these drugs are not proven to work against COVID-19 and should talk to their doctor before taking them.

        The study also found that the use of these drugs was not evenly spread across the country. The southern US had more use of ivermectin than other regions. This could be because of differences in healthcare access or beliefs about COVID-19 treatments. It is important to understand these differences to make sure that everyone has access to safe and effective treatments.

        The study also found that the use of these drugs was higher in areas with more social problems. This could be because these areas may have less access to healthcare or may be more likely to try new treatments. It is important to understand these differences to make sure that everyone has access to safe and effective treatments.

        The study also found that the use of these drugs was not always safe or effective. The FDA has not approved hydroxychloroquine or ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19. This means that these drugs are not proven to work against COVID-19. People should be aware that these drugs are not proven to work against COVID-19 and should talk to their doctor before taking them.

Pills and Pandemic: How Two Drugs Became Popular During COVID-19

Actions