These States Now Allow OTC Ivermectin, and More May Follow [View all]

"A handful of states have passed legislation allowing ivermectin to be sold and purchased over-the-counter (OTC) -- and other state legislatures have their sights set on doing the same.

During the pandemic, rampant misinformationopens in a new tab or window drew attention to the antiparasitic as a treatment for COVID, though research continues to showopens in a new tab or window it is not effective against the disease.

Ivermectin tablets are FDA approved at specific doses for treating some parasitic worms, as are topical formulations for some skin conditions and head lice, but neither are FDA approved for preventing or treating COVID. Despite this, an increasing number of states are making it easier to get ivermectin and protecting pharmacists from lawsuits and discipline by licensing boards. None of the laws have information about dosing.

Currently four states -- Tennessee, Arkansas, Idaho, and Louisiana -- have passed OTC ivermectin laws.

In April 2022, Tennessee passed SB 2188opens in a new tab or window/HB 2746opens in a new tab or window, becoming the first state to make ivermectin available OTC. The legislation authorizes "ivermectin suitable for human use" to be sold or purchased OTC "without a prescription or consultation with a pharmacist or other healthcare professional." For 3 years, Tennessee was the only state to have OTC ivermectin.

Then on March 25 of this year, Arkansas passed SB 189opens in a new tab or window, now Act 396opens in a new tab or window. Weeks later, on April 14, Idaho passed similar OTC ivermectin legislation, SB 1211opens in a new tab or window.

Louisiana SB 19opens in a new tab or window, now Act 464, went into effect on June 20, making it the latest state to make ivermectin available OTC. This law specifies that a pharmacist can dispense ivermectin to adults "pursuant to a standing order issued by a healthcare professional with prescriptive authority" and requires the pharmacist to provide the patient with information on indications and contraindications as well as a screening risk assessment tool. For this service, the pharmacy may charge an administrative fee. Ralph Abraham, MDopens in a new tab or window, the state's surgeon general, backed the bill.

In addition to these, other states have bills moving through their legislatures:

https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/features/116436?mh=9701e5e556ac1543dfb2ab968550813c&xid=nl_secondopinion_2025-07-22&zdee=gAAAAABm4uxvn5SAgpa5xYOjEigEAQDQRkAhu4TBX5CA0Y-Ne5nq63wV8FW92mTfJJfq-J92Zza9t0cgSw4IwOLHwJZFloDqiQyZOWJPNCMtMesditQWGBo%3D

A comment on this article:

"Politicians really need to stay out of the medical business. First they try to take an FDA approved drug off the market (Mifepristone) for political reasons, and now they're trying to take another one and make it OTC, for political reasons! Who needs the FDA?! Soon we'll all be able to sell whatever snake oil we want...
Could we maybe leave the practice of medicine to the professionals, folks?"