The number of monthly ivermectin prescriptions skyrocketed in 2021 because many people misused the anti-parasite drug to combat COVID-19.
Ivermectin is safe for human use in small doses, and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat parasite infections.
However, it has become the center of public attention in recent months after social media rumors caused many to believe the drug could treat or prevent COVID-19.
Doctors say it has no capacity to treat Covid, nor is the medication FDA-approved to treat the virus.
An analysis conducted by Komodo Health, a health software company, found monthly prescriptions increased 72 percent from 39,864 in 2019 to 68,428 in 2021.
Heath software company Komodo Health looked at claims data for the anti-parasite drug ivermectin and found the monthly average increased 72% from 39,864 in 2019 to 68,428 in 2021 (above)
Misinformation about ivermectin is based on a misinterpreted study from 2020 that found high concentrations of the drug could stop the virus from replicating (file image)
For the report, published on Tuesday, Komodo Health looked at claims data the company has collected from January 2019 to May 21019.
The team found that the number of prescriptions for ivermectin rose from a monthly average of 39,864 to 40,347 in 2020 to 68,428 in 2021, an increase of 72 percent.
Over the 29-month time period, the highest monthly average was seen in January 2021 at 97,192.
Changes varied by state with the greatest overall increase seen in Idaho from 116 prescriptions per month in 2019 to 417 per month in 2021 - a 258 percent spike.
Rounding out the top five were New Mexico (216 percent), Wyoming (204 percent), Mississippi (198 percent) and South Dakota (196 percent).
The report also found the average number of healthcare providers prescribing the drug per month rose 34 percent from 2019 to 2021.
New Mexico saw the biggest jump at 172 percent followed by South Dakota (118 percent), Alaska (117 percent), Idaho (109 percent) and Wyoming (108 percent).
Additionally, the report found the biggest increases in prescriptions for ivermectin were seen among specialties that don't generally treat conditions - such as parasitic infections, scabies or head lice - for which the drug is used.
Anesthesiologists saw the greatest increases in prescriptions at 1,319 percent between 2019 and 2021.
This was followed by physical medicine and
