Patient leaflet - Ivermectin 3 mg tablets
1. What Ivermectin is and what it is used for
Ivermectin tablets contains a medicine called Ivermectin. This is a type of medicine which is used for infections caused by some parasites.
It is used to treat:
- an infection in your gut called intestinal strongyloidiasis (anguillulosis). This is caused by a type of round worm called “Strongyloides stercoralis”.
an infection of your blood called
microfilaraemia due to “lymphatic filariasis”. This is caused by an immature worm called “Wuchereria bancrofti”. Ivermectin does not work against adult worms, only against immature worms.
- skin mites (scabies). This is when tiny mites burrow under your skin. This can cause severe itching. Ivermectin should only be taken when your doctor has proven or thinks you have scabies.
Ivermectin will not stop you from getting one of these infections. It does not work against adult worms. Ivermectin should only be taken when your doctor has proven or thinks you have a parasite infection.
2. What you need to know before you take Ivermectin
Do not take Ivermectin
- if you are allergic to Ivermectin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). Signs of an allergic reaction to a medicine can include skin rash, difficulty breathing or fever.
- If you have ever developed a severe skin rash or skin peeling, blistering and/or mouth sores after taking ivermectin.
In general, if you experience unusual symptoms that suddenly occur after taking any medicine, such as rash, hives or fever, you may assume that you are allergic to that medicine.
Do not take Ivermectin if the above applies to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Ivermectin.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Ivermectin.
Serious skin reactions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, have been reported in association with ivermectin treatment. Stop using ivermectin and seek medical attention immediately if you notice any of the symptoms related to these serious skin reactions described in section 4.
Before starting treatment with Ivermectin, tell your doctor about all your medical history. Tell your doctor
- if you have a weak immune system (immunity disorder)
- if you live or have lived in parts of Africa where there are cases of human parasitic infestation with the “Loa loa“ filarial worm also called eye-worm.
- if you currently live or have lived in parts of Africa.
Combined use of diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) to treat a co-infection with Onchocerca volvulus can lead to the risk of experiencing sometimes potentially severe side effects.
If any of the above apply to you (or you are not sure), talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Ivermectin.
Ivermectin is not intended for use to prevent infestations with tropical parasites. It is not effective against adult parasitic worms and it may only be used on the advice of a doctor when parasitic infestation is certain or strongly suspected.
Ivermectin is not approved for use as a treatment for suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Such use may lead to a delay in the diagnosis and/or receiving the appropriate treatment, increasing the risk of harmful effects of COVID-19.
Children
The safety of using Ivermectin in children weighing less than 15 kg has not been evaluated.
Elderly patients
Clinical studies with Ivermectin did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 years and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. In general, treatment of an elderly patient should be cautious, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.
Other medicines and Ivermectin
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
In general, you should seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine.
Pregnancy, and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, do not take ivermectin unless your doctor has instructed you to.
Breast-feeding
Ivermectin is excreted in human milk. If you are breast-feeding, tell your doctor and do not follow this treatment unless he/she has instructed you to.
Driving and using machines
The effect of Ivermectin on the ability to drive and use machines has not been studied. In some patients the possibility of side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, or feeling shaky or like you are spinning, which may affect the ability to drive or use machines, cannot be ruled out. If you experience such symptoms, avoid driving or using machines.
3. How to take Ivermectin
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Dosage
Treatment of gastrointestinal strongyloidiasis (anguillulosis)
The recommended dosage is 200 μg ivermectin per kg body weight, taken orally as a single dose.
For guidance, the dose based on body weight is:
BODY WEIGHT (kg) DOSE (number of
3 mg tablets)
15 to 24 1
25 to 35 2
36 to 50 3
51 to 65 4
66 to 79 5
≥ 80 6
Treatment of microfilaraemia caused by Wuchereria bancrofti (lymphatic filariasis) The recommended dosage for mass treatment campaigns in Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaraemia (lymphatic filariasis) is approximately 150 to 200 μg ivermectin per kg body weight, taken as a single oral dose every 6 months.
In endemic areas, where treatment can only be administered once every 12 months, the recommended dosage is 300 to 400 μg per kg body weight to maintain adequate suppression of microfilaraemia in treated patients. For guidance, the dose based on body weight is:
BODY
WEIGHT (kg)
DOSE when given once every 6
months
(number of 3 mg tablets)
Dose when given once every 12 months (number of 3 mg tablets)
15 to 25 1 2
26 to 44 2 4
45 to 64 3 6
65 to 84 4 8
Alternatively, and in the absence of a set of weighing scales, the ivermectin dosage for administration in mass treatment campaigns can be determined by the patient’s height, as follows:
HEIGHT (cm) DOSE when
given once every 6 months
(number of 3 mg tablets)
Dose when given once every 12 months (number of 3 mg tablets)
90 to 119 1 2
120 to 140 2 4
141 to 158 3 6
> 158 4 8
Treatment of human scabies
- Take a dose of 200 micrograms for each kilogram of body weight.
- You will not know if the treatment has been successful for 4 weeks.
- Your doctor may decide to give you a second single dose within 8 to 15 days.
What else must you observe when you are treated for scabies?
Everyone who comes into contact with you, especially members of your family and partners, should visit a doctor as soon as possible. The doctor will decide whether these persons should also be treated.
If infected contact persons are not also treated promptly, there is a danger that they could re-infect you with scabies.
You should follow hygienic measures to prevent reinfection (i.e. keeping fingernails short and clean) and you should follow official recommendations regarding the cleaning of clothing and bedding closely.
If you have the impression that the effect of Ivermectin is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Package leaflet: Information for the patient
Ivermectin 3 mg tablets
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4. Method of administration
How to take the tablets
- Take the tablets by mouth.
- For children less than 6 years of age and weighing at least 15 kg, crush the tablets before swallowing.
Take the tablets with water and on an empty stomach.
- Do not eat any food within two hours before or after taking the tablets. This is because it is not known how food affects how your body absorbs the medicine.
How many tablets to take
- Treatment is a single dose.
- Your doctor will tell you how many tablets you need to take.
- Take all the tablets at the same time.
- The dose depends on your illness and your weight or your height.
If you take more Ivermectin than you should
It is important to take the dose that your doctor prescribed. Decreased alertness including coma have been reported in patients with overdosage of ivermectin.
If you take more Ivermectin than you should, talk to a doctor straight away.
If you forget to take Ivermectin
Always follow your doctor’s prescription. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist/
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Side effects are usually not serious and do not last long. They may be more likely to happen in people infected with several parasites. This is particularly true if they have the worm “Loa loa”.
The following side effects may happen with this medicine:
Allergic reactions
Stop using ivermectin and seek medical attention immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms:
- sudden fever
- sudden skin reactions (such as rash or itching) or other serious skin reactions
- difficulty breathing
- reddish non-elevated, target-like or circular patches on the trunk, often with central blisters, skin peeling, ulcers of mouth, throat, nose, genitals and eyes. These serious skin rashes can be preceded by fever and flulike symptoms (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis).
Other side effects
- liver disease (acute hepatitis)
- blood in urine
- changes in some laboratory tests (increase of liver enzymes, increase of bilirubin on blood, increase of eosinophils)
- decrease in alertness including coma
The side effects below depend on what you are taking Ivermectin for. They also depend on whether you have any other infections.
People with intestinal strongyloidiasis (anguillulosis) may have the following side effects:
- feeling unusually weak
- loss of appetite, stomach pain, constipation or diarrhoea
- nausea or vomiting
- feeling sleepy or dizzy
- shaking or tremors
- a decrease in the number of white blood cells (leukopenia)
- a decrease in the amount of red blood cells or the red blood pigment haemoglobin (anaemia).
Also, in intestinal strongyloidiasis
(anguillulosis), adult round worms may be found in your stools.
People with microfilaraemia due to lymphatic filariasis caused by Wuchereria bancrofti may have the following side effects:
- sweating or fever
- headache
- feeling unusually weak
- muscle, joint and general body pains
- loss of appetite, nausea
- pain in your stomach (abdominal and epigastric pain)
- cough or sore throat
- discomfort when breathing
- low blood pressure when getting or standing up - you may feel dizzy or light-headed
- chills
- dizziness
- pain or discomfort in your testicle
People with scabies may have the following side effects:
- itching (pruritus) may get worse at the start of treatment. This does not usually last long.
People with heavy infection of the worm “Loa loa” may have the following side effects:
- abnormal brain function
- neck or back pain
- bleeding in the whites of your eyes (also known as red eye)
- being short of breath
- loss of control of your bladder or your bowels
- difficulty standing or walking
- mental status changes
- feeling drowsy or confused
not responding to other people or going into a coma
People infected with the worm “Onchocerca volvulus” which causes river blindness may have the following side effects:
- itching or rash
- joint or muscle pains
- fever
- nausea or vomiting
- swelling of lymph nodes
- swelling, especially of the hands, ankles or feet
- diarrhoea
- dizziness
- low blood pressure (hypotension). You may feel dizzy or light-headed when standing up
- fast heart rate
- headache or feeling tired
- changes to your vision and other eye problems such as infection, redness or unusual feelings
- bleeding in the whites of your eyes or swelling of your eye lids
- asthma may get worse
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Ivermectin
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and blister after `EXP´. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not store above 25°C.
Store in the original package in order to protect the product from light.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Ivermectin contains
The active substance is ivermectin.
Each tablet contains 3 mg ivermectin. The other ingredients are microcrystalline cellulose (E 460), citric acid (E 330), butylhydroxyanisole (E 320), pregelatinized starch, colloidal anhydrous silica (E 551), magnesium stearate (E 470b)
What Ivermectin looks like and contents of the pack
White to off white, round, biconvex tablets. Cartons contain blisters of 4, 6, 8 or 10 tablets. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Aristo Pharma GmbH
Wallenroder Strasse 8-10
13435 Berlin
Germany
Manufacturer
Medinsa (Laboratorios Medicamentos Internacionales S.A.)
Calle De La Solana 26, Torrejon De Ardoz 28850 Spain
This leaflet was last revised in 07/2026.
If you are blind or partially sighted and require this leaflet in a different format, call 01483 920754 or contact medinfo@aristo-pharma.co.uk
GI1771-02/UK/0726 XXXXXXXX/1