Effectiveness and Toxicity of Ivermectin for the Management of COVID-19: A Meta-Analysis

Singla, Sudheer, Sahu, Mishra, Chandna and Mane

Health Leadership and Quality of Life, 2025, vol. 4, 624

Abstract: Ivermectin was recently suggested as a possible COVID-19 therapy, yet its clinical efficacy and safety remain controversial. This meta-analysis systematically reviews studies from the key databases of PubMed, Elsevier, Scopus, and Web of Science using the Boolean operator to effect of ivermectin on various COVID outcomes including symptom reduction, mortality, and side effects. Relevant studies’ data were included and assessed with a random-effects classicalapproximatingStandardized Mean Difference (SMD). We created forest plots to visualize the treatment effect based on several levels of COVID severity and dose and produced funnel plots to assess publication bias. The findings indicate that ivermectin does not provide a significant clinical benefit compared to standard care. Furthermore, the ivermectin group exhibited a higher incidence of adverse effects, raising safety concerns. Current evidence does not support the use of ivermectin as a primary therapy for COVID-19. Well-designed, rigorously controlled studies are essential to identify safer and more effective treatment options.

Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:dbk:health:v:4:y:2025:i::p:624:id:624

DOI: 10.56294/hl2025624

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Health Leadership and Quality of Life from AG Editor
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Javier Gonzalez-Argote ().