Use of ivermectin and nitazoxanide for treatment and prophylaxis of COVID-19: A systematic review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v11i8.31090

Keywords:

COVID-19; Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis; Systematic Review; Antiparasitic Agents; Therapeutics.

Abstract

Purpose: Systematically review the scientific literature on evidence on the use of ivermectin and nitazoxanide as treatment and prophylaxis for COVID-19. Methodology: This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). PubMed, Lilacs, and SciELO databases were searched on October 14, 2021, to identify studies that evaluated the use of ivermectin and nitazoxanide for treatment or prophylaxis of confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19. Results: 105 articles were retrieved, of which 9 were included for the final review, four randomized controlled trials, one nonrandomized clinical trial, one retrospective cohort, one cross-sectional study, one case series, and one case report. Most studies were from Brazil, Egypt, and Mexico, evaluated nitazoxanide, and addressed the disease treatment. Conclusions: There is no sufficiently robust scientific evidence to support treatment and/or prophylaxis with ivermectin and nitazoxanide for COVID-19. Although the results found do not indicate an increased risk of adverse events to the drugs analyzed, it should not be assumed that their use is risk-free and should be used rationally.

Author Biographies

Camila Neto Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia

Farmacêutica graduada pela Universidade Federal da Bahia, Instituto Multidisciplinar em Saúde, Campus Anísio Teixeira. Especialista em Farmácia clínica, Hospitalar e Prescrição Farmacêutica.

João Gomes da Silva Neto, Universidade Federal da Bahia

Farmacêutico graduado pela Universidade Federal da Bahia, Instituto Multidisciplinar em Saúde, Campus Anísio Teixeira.  Especialista em Farmácia clínica, Hospitalar e Prescrição Farmacêutica.

Izabel Cristina Pereira Rocha, Universidade Federal da Bahia

Farmacêutica graduada pela Universidade Federal da Bahia, Instituto Multidisciplinar em Saúde, Campus Anísio Teixeira. Especialista em Farmácia clínica hospitalar e prescrição farmacêutica. Especialista em Saúde da Família.

Milena Soares dos Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia

Farmacêutica com habilitação em Análises Clínicas e Saúde Pública e Bioquímica de Alimentos. Pós graduação em Ciências. Docente Adjunto do Curso de Farmácia da Universidade Federal da Bahia, Instituto Multidisciplinar em Saúde, Campus Anísio Teixeira, Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brasil.

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25/06/2022

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SANTOS, C. N.; SILVA NETO, J. G. da; ROCHA, I. C. P.; SANTOS, M. S. dos. Use of ivermectin and nitazoxanide for treatment and prophylaxis of COVID-19: A systematic review. Research, Society and Development, [S. l.], v. 11, n. 8, p. e43511831090, 2022. DOI: 10.33448/rsd-v11i8.31090. Disponível em: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/31090. Acesso em: 19 apr. 2024.

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Vol. 11 No. 8

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Review Article

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Copyright (c) 2022 Camila Neto Santos; João Gomes da Silva Neto; Izabel Cristina Pereira Rocha; Milena Soares dos Santos

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