Iver-Ash 20 (Ivermectin) 20 mg, 100 tablets: profile, composition and research
Reference page for Iver-Ash 20 (Ivermectin) 20 mg, 100 tablets. Active substance: Ивермектин / Ivermectin.
- What it is: ivermectin, an antiparasitic agent of the avermectin class, as oral tablets.
- Presentation: 20 mg tablets, a pack of 100 tablets.
- Status: prescription-only medicine used under medical supervision.
- Research: work in strongyloidiasis, onchocerciasis and scabies, links in the section below.
- Where to buy: APV Pharmacy (price and availability there).
Key facts
| Active substance | Ivermectin |
|---|---|
| Form | Tablets for oral use |
| Strength | 20 mg per tablet |
| Pack size | 100 tablets |
| Category | Prescription antiparasitic medicine |
| Article (SKU) | IVER-ASH-20-100 |
What ivermectin is
Ivermectin is an antiparasitic of the avermectin class. It was obtained from the metabolic products of a soil microorganism and is now produced as a finished active substance. The drug counts among the essential medicines against parasitic disease.
In this presentation each tablet holds 20 mg of ivermectin, and a pack contains 100 tablets. A physician sets the dose by the patient's body weight, which is why a range of strengths exists: the same regimen for adults of different weight requires different numbers of milligrams.
Ivermectin acts on a wide range of parasites, but only on those with a particular type of nerve transmission. Human cells are built differently, so the medicine is selective and, within approved doses, is tolerated comparatively well.
How ivermectin works
Chloride channels
The substance binds to glutamate-gated chloride channels found in the nervous system of invertebrates. The channels stay open longer than usual, and excess chloride flows into the parasite's nerve cell.
Paralysis and death
The excess chloride leaves the nerve cell unable to conduct a signal. The parasite's muscles become paralysed, it loses the ability to move and feed, and it dies, after which it is cleared from the body.
Why people are protected
The ivermectin-sensitive glutamate-gated chloride channels are virtually absent in humans, and the medicine crosses only weakly into the central nervous system thanks to the barrier between blood and brain.
Action across species
Different parasites respond differently: some react to a single dose, while others need the course repeated as decided by a doctor.
Approved uses
The prescribing information lists parasitic infestations for which ivermectin is used on prescription: strongyloidiasis, caused by the roundworm Strongyloides stercoralis, and onchocerciasis, known as river blindness.
Scabies, caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, is listed separately, along with certain forms of filariasis and intestinal helminthiasis as part of treatment set by a physician.
In mass-treatment programmes ivermectin is used against onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis in regions where these diseases are common. Such programmes run under the control of health services and have nothing to do with self-treatment.
Ivermectin does not replace examination. The diagnosis is confirmed in a laboratory, and the dose, the number of doses and the need for a repeat course are set by a doctor.
What the research shows
Publications on strongyloidiasis describe high effectiveness of ivermectin in this infestation and discuss treating patients with reduced immunity, in whom the infection can run a severe course.
A meta-analysis of long-term mass-treatment programmes in sub-Saharan Africa assesses the contribution of ivermectin to reduced transmission of onchocerciasis. Cochrane reviews and clinical guidelines on scabies likewise list ivermectin among the main drugs alongside topical agents.
The safety of the medicine has been studied separately, including high doses and use during pregnancy. The data are broadly reassuring, but most studies concern particular parasitic diseases, and their conclusions should not be carried over to other conditions.
Published research
Primary sources, verified against PubMed:
- High Efficacy of Ivermectin for Strongyloidiasis Treatment., PubMed 38579698 (The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 2024).
- Strongyloidiasis., PubMed 38272922 (Nature reviews. Disease primers, 2024).
- Elimination of transmission of onchocerciasis (river blindness) with long-term ivermectin mass drug administration with or without vector control in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis., PubMed 38484745 (The Lancet. Global health, 2024).
- Clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of scabies., PubMed 38922701 (International journal of dermatology, 2024).
- Safety of high-dose ivermectin: a systematic review and meta-analysis., PubMed 31960060 (The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy, 2020).
Listed for reference. Publication of a study is not a claim about this particular product.
Precautions
- This is a prescription medicine: a physician calculates prescribing and dose by body weight.
- It is not used in case of hypersensitivity to ivermectin or other avermectins.
- Veterinary forms of ivermectin must not be used to treat people.
- It is used with caution in liver disease, in a disrupted blood-brain barrier and in debilitated patients.
- Age limits and restrictions in pregnancy and breastfeeding are set by the treating physician.
- Dizziness and drowsiness are possible during treatment: driving is not advisable until tolerability is known.
- Tell your doctor about every other medicine you take, including anticoagulants.
Frequently asked
Is Iver-Ash 20 a prescription medicine?
Yes. It is a prescription antiparasitic used under medical supervision.
Why does this page not give a dosing schedule?
The dose and duration are decided by a physician and depend on body weight, the parasite involved and the patient's condition. A schedule cannot be taken from a reference page.
How do 20 mg tablets differ?
Only in the amount of active substance per tablet. The appropriate strength is chosen by a doctor from a weight-based dose calculation.
Where does the order ship from?
Shipping and customs handling are described on the APV Pharmacy delivery page.