Ivermectin for Humans: Uses, Forms and How to Get It

What is ivermectin for humans?

Human ivermectin is a prescription antiparasitic medicine, sold as 3mg oral tablets in the US (brand name Stromectol and generics), and as a lotion for head lice and a cream for rosacea. These products are made and tested for people. Veterinary ivermectin, for horses, cattle and pets, is a different product and isn't safe for people.

What is ivermectin approved for in people?

The FDA has approved oral ivermectin tablets for two parasitic infections: intestinal strongyloidiasis and onchocerciasis (river blindness). A 0.5% lotion is approved for head lice, and a 1% cream for the bumps and pimples of rosacea. Prescribers also use oral ivermectin for some other parasitic conditions, such as certain cases of scabies.

Ivermectin isn't approved for COVID-19, and large NIH-funded trials didn't find a benefit. Our FDA-approved uses guide covers each use in detail, and MedlinePlus has a plain-language summary.

Why isn't animal ivermectin safe for people?

Animal products are made for animals that can weigh more than a thousand pounds, so they're far more concentrated than human tablets. Pastes, pour-ons and injectables also contain inactive ingredients that haven't been tested in people. The FDA has warned against human use after poison control centers reported hospitalizations from overdoses. Our article on why not veterinary ivermectin explains the risks.

What forms does human ivermectin come in?

• Oral tablets: 3mg in the US (Stromectol and generics). Tablets made outside the US come in other strengths, such as 6mg, 12mg and 24mg.
• Lotion (0.5%): for head lice, sold over the counter since 2020. See ivermectin for head lice.
• Cream (1%): prescription-only, for rosacea.

Our 3mg vs 6mg vs 12mg guide explains tablet strengths.

Do I need a prescription for ivermectin tablets?

Under federal law, yes. Seven states let licensed pharmacists dispense ivermectin without an individual prescription: Tennessee (since 2022), Texas (2025), Arkansas (2025), Idaho (2025), Louisiana (2025), Iowa (from July 1, 2026) and Missouri (from August 28, 2026). Each pharmacy decides whether to take part, and the pharmacist still screens you. Everywhere else, you need a prescription. Our over-the-counter guide and state guide explain the laws.

How can I get ivermectin for humans?

• From a local pharmacy with a prescription, or without one at a participating pharmacy in a dispensing state.
• From a prescriber or telehealth clinician, who can send a prescription to any pharmacy. See getting a prescription online.
• Online with a prescription. We sell Iverheal ivermectin tablets made in India by Healing Pharma, in 3mg, 6mg, 12mg and 24mg. Iverheal isn't FDA-approved, so every order needs a valid prescription, and a licensed US doctor reviews every order before it ships.

Standard tracked USPS shipping is free on orders of $200 or more, $10 from $170 to $199.99 and $20 below that. Priority Mail costs $10 more at each level. The minimum order is $130 in products. Current prices are on the ivermectin price page.

Is ivermectin safe for people?

At approved doses under medical supervision, ivermectin has a long safety record; it's on the World Health Organization's list of essential medicines. Common side effects include dizziness, nausea, diarrhea and itching. It can interact with blood thinners such as warfarin, and people who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have liver disease should talk to a prescriber first. Our side effects and interactions guide covers the details.

How much to take is a decision for your prescriber, based on weight and the condition. How the ivermectin dose is decided explains the factors; we don't give dosing instructions.

What should I avoid?

Don't take veterinary products. Don't use someone else's prescription, because the right amount depends on your weight and condition. And be cautious of any seller offering prescription ivermectin to anyone with no questions asked.

What is the history of ivermectin?

Ivermectin comes from a soil bacterium found in Japan in the 1970s. It was first used in animals, then in people, and its impact on river blindness earned William Campbell and Satoshi Ōmura the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Decades of use are why its side effects and interactions are well documented. Our what is ivermectin guide tells the story in more detail.

Is the ivermectin in human tablets different from animal products?

The molecule is the same. What differs is everything around it: the strength per dose, the inactive ingredients, the manufacturing standards and the testing. Human tablets are made to precise strengths and tested in people; animal products are made for large animals. That's why the same active ingredient can be safe in one product and dangerous in another.

Can children take ivermectin?

Ivermectin tablets aren't recommended for young children below a certain body weight, and the lotion for lice has its own age guidance. A pediatrician or prescriber decides whether it's appropriate for a child and in what form. Don't give an adult's tablets to a child.