Physicians target FDA for ivermectin interference
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has become the target of a lawsuit filed by three prominent doctors who are seeking a permanent injunction to prevent the agency from interfering further with the use of ivermectin as an early COVID-19 treatment, reports The Epoch Times.
While over 80 studies and over 30 controlled trials support the use of ivermectin for early COVID-19, corporate media and the U.S. government have aggressively opposed its use. Physicians who recommended the treatment are often hunted, threatened, disciplined, and sometimes barred from medical practice.
Dr. Paul Marik, Dr. Mary Bowden, and Dr. Robert Apter are three physicians who were disciplined for recommending ivermectin to patients and are now going after the FDA for the major role it has played in discrediting the drug.
In August 2021, the FDA openly discouraged the use of ivermectin.
“You are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously, y’all. Stop it,” tweeted the FDA. Reponses show that the tweet had its intended effect.
The tweet came as a surprise to many because the FDA, which approved the drug in 1966, was fully aware that ivermectin is manufactured as an antiparasitic both for animals and humans.
What was also puzzling was the FDA’s interference in the off-label use of an approved drug. About 20% of all prescriptions are written for off-label use, and the FDA typically leaves it up to physicians to determine its use.
“From the FDA perspective, once the FDA approves a drug, healthcare providers generally may prescribe the drug for an unapproved use when they judge that it is medically appropriate for their patient,” says the FDA on its website.
Oddly, the FDA has not discouraged the use of (Cytotec) misoprostol, which is FDA-approved for gastric ulcers – especially in horses – and is now being used off-label to induce abortion.
“The FDA has made public statements on ivermectin that have been misleading and have raised unwarranted concern over a critical drug in preventing and treating COVID-19,” Dr. Marik told The Epoch Times. “To do this is to ignore both statutory limits on the FDA’s authority and the significant body of scientific evidence from peer-reviewed research.”
The lawsuit comes amid a growing push to make cheap, effective drugs like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine available for all COVID-19 patients, led by human rights group America’s Frontline Doctors.
In October 2020, America’s Frontline Doctors (AFLDS), headed by Dr. Simone Gold, filed a citizen’s petition with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to make hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) available over the counter as a treatment for COVID-19.
While the human rights group was vilified by mainstream media and many politicians, various states are now following the initiative and passing legislation to make cheaper drugs such as HCQ and ivermectin available as OTC treatments for COVID-19.
Responses to an America’s Frontline News report detailing the legislative push included the following:
“God Bless you for your great efforts and sacrifices you have made to spread the truth about this disease and treatment for it . My wife and I are in our late 60’s and thanks to your website we were able to find a Dr. to prescribe ivermectin and a local compounding pharmacist to fill it along with a Z pack . We just contracted Covid a few weeks ago . She was first and by the third day of displaying symptoms she was getting really sick. Fever cough and difficulty breathing, headache . After testing positive I gave her the ivermectin and within two hours she was improving. Same or better results for me . We are completely recovered now and I can not tell you how much I appreciate your help!”
