Résumé
Introduction: Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug approved the treatment of intestinal strongyloidiasis, lymphatic filariasis and scabies. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, ivermectin has been evaluated for the prevention and the treatment of the infection but does not appear to be effective in this indication. Nevertheless, since May 2020, North American and European tabloids as well as some public health policies began to mention ivermectin as a potential anti-COVID-19 treatment which led to its off-label use in several countries. The aim of this study was to identify adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported after ivermectin misuse for COVID-19 in VigiBase®, the World Health Organization’s pharmacovigilance databaseMaterial and methods: All ADRs reported with ivermectin were extracted from the WHO pharmacovigilance database VigiBase®. Serious ADRs reported after ivermectin use where the indication mentioned COVID-19 were selected and analyzed.Results: We highlighted a considerable increase in ivermectine-related reports since May 2020. From May 1st , 2020, to December 21 st , 2021, 1,777 ADRs were reported with ivermectin specifying an indication for COVID-19. Gastrointestinal and neurological disorders were the most reported. Among the 53 cases considered as serious (12 deaths, 11 life-threatening events and 21 hospitalizations), 35 considered ivermectin as the single suspect. Those cases were mostly reported in North America (37.1%) and Europe (25.7%). The most frequently reported ADRs specifying an organ concerned neurologic (10 cases including 1 encephalitis, 1 coma and 1 death), respiratory (7 cases including 1 death), gastrointestinal (7 cases including 1 death), skin (4 cases), psychiatric (4 cases including 1 death) and cardiac disorders (3 cases including 1 death).Discussion/Conclusion: These findings call for extreme caution when using ivermectin, especially since there is no current scientific evidence to support its use in the treatment of COVID-19.