How much ivermectin should a human take?
Executive summary
Ivermectin dosing for humans is weight‑based and used for specific parasitic infections; the standard therapeutic range cited by major medical sources is about 150–200 micrograms per kilogram (0.15–0.20 mg/kg) as a single oral dose, with some programmatic regimens using higher single annual doses for public‑health campaigns (for example, 0.4 mg/kg) [1] [2]. It is not approved for COVID‑19 and there is no recommended human dose for unapproved uses; taking veterinary formulations or much higher doses risks serious harm [3] [4] [5].
1. Standard clinical dosing for approved parasitic infections
For adults and children ≥15 kg who receive ivermectin for established parasitic diseases, dosing is calculated by body weight, with authoritative clinical references reporting typical doses of roughly 150 mcg/kg to 200 mcg/kg given once [1] [6]. Clinical product information notes each tablet may contain 3 mg of ivermectin, so a clinician will convert the weight‑based dose into the number of tablets prescribed [1]. Large programmatic treatments for certain filarial diseases have used single annual doses up to 0.4 mg/kg in combination regimens under supervised public‑health protocols [2].
2. How dosing is administered and when repeat doses occur
Ivermectin is usually taken orally as a single dose on an empty stomach with water, and repeat dosing schedules depend on the infection being treated—some conditions require retreatment every few months or a specific repeat after two weeks as directed by clinical guidance [3] [1] [2]. Pharmacokinetic factors such as increased absorption with a high‑fat meal have been documented, so administration instructions (fasted vs fed) matter clinically because food can raise blood levels substantially [2].
3. Safety limits, toxicity and pediatric cautions
Toxicity thresholds cited in the clinical and pharmacology literature are far above therapeutic doses but are relevant when people take inappropriate amounts: human‑equivalent LD50 estimates and case‑reports suggest that achieving the in‑vitro antiviral concentrations proposed by some commentators would require doses many times the approved range and could produce ivermectin poisoning [7]. Regulatory and clinical sources caution that ivermectin safety has not been established in children under about 15 kg and elderly or liver‑impaired patients may need caution or dose adjustments [1] [3].
4. Veterinary products, off‑label use, and the misinformation landscape
Public interest in non‑standard uses—such as for COVID‑19, cancer, or taking veterinary paste—has produced misinformation and dangerous self‑medication; major health agencies and clinical reviewers state ivermectin is not authorized or recommended for COVID‑19 outside clinical trials, and warn against consuming veterinary formulations intended for animals [3] [4] [5]. Media reporting and advocacy groups have amplified off‑label claims about “miracle” benefits despite lack of high‑quality evidence, and some online sources propose unvalidated higher dosing protocols that far exceed the routine 0.15–0.20 mg/kg range [8] [9] [10].
5. Bottom line — how much should a human take?
For approved parasitic indications, clinicians dose ivermectin by weight—most commonly 150–200 mcg per kg (0.15–0.20 mg/kg) as a single oral dose, with specific regimens and any repeat dosing determined by the treating physician and condition [1] [2]. Example conversions from authoritative guides: a 60 kg adult would therefore typically receive about 9–12 mg as a single dose (calculation based on 0.15–0.20 mg/kg) though exact tablet counts and repeat intervals must come from a prescriber [1]. There is no endorsed dose for COVID‑19 or other unapproved uses, veterinary products should never be used in humans, and any deviation from standard, weight‑based prescriptions risks harm [3] [5] [4].