Where is ivermectin manufactured for human versus animal use?
Executive summary
Human-grade ivermectin is produced under pharmaceutical regulations and distributed as prescription tablets or topical formulations approved and overseen by agencies such as the FDA or EMA, whereas veterinary ivermectin is manufactured in a wider array of formulations (injectables, pour-ons, pastes, high‑concentration liquids) for livestock and pets and is often sold over‑the‑counter through agricultural and veterinary supply channels [1][2][3]. The two streams are regulated differently, use different excipients and concentrations, and are not interchangeable for human use — a distinction emphasized repeatedly by regulators and veterinary and public‑health authorities [4][5][2].
1. Human ivermectin: manufactured to pharmaceutical standards and routed through prescription channels
Human ivermectin intended for people is produced to meet strict safety, efficacy and manufacturing standards enforced by drug regulators — it appears on formularies as oral tablets or topical creams and must generally be prescribed by a licensed clinician or imported under special permits in jurisdictions that restrict supply, which reflects oversight by agencies such as the FDA, EMA or national regulators [1][2][6]. Regulatory notices stress that human ivermectin should be obtained through legitimate medical channels and that its manufacture and labeling are tied to approvals for specific parasitic indications rather than for viral diseases [7][1].
2. Veterinary ivermectin: made in concentrated, varied forms for animals and sold through ag‑channels
Ivermectin intended for animals is manufactured in multiple delivery forms — injectable solutions, oral liquids, powders, pour‑ons and pastes — and in concentrations appropriate for large animals like cattle and horses, so formulations are often far stronger than those used in humans; these products are commonly available over‑the‑counter at feed stores, veterinarians and agricultural suppliers rather than through prescription pharmacies [2][3][4]. State and federal warnings documented widespread purchases of animal ivermectin by people seeking unapproved uses, and regulators flagged that veterinary products were evaluated only for the labeled animal species and may contain inactive ingredients not tested for human safety [5][4][2].
3. Why manufacturing differences matter: concentrations, excipients, and regulatory testing
The same active molecule can be formulated very differently; manufacturers of veterinary products produce higher‑strength and alternative‑vehicle formulations to treat large animals, and those products may include carriers or excipients used in agricultural products that are not evaluated for human consumption — factors that can alter absorption and safety and have prompted repeated agency advisories not to use animal ivermectin in people [1][4][2]. Regulators and public‑health officials have linked improper use of animal‑grade ivermectin to serious health harms and shortages for animals that rely on the drug, underscoring that manufacturing choices (strength, form, excipients) are consequential beyond marketing channels [5][7].
4. Distribution and real‑world access: prescription import, compassionate programmes, and OTC animal markets
In some countries human ivermectin is limited to prescription use or importation under special permits or compassionate‑use pathways, while the same markets offer animal ivermectin as an accessible, often nonprescription product — a reality that has driven substitution attempts and consequent regulatory alerts [6][2][7]. Health practitioners note they have prescribed the human formulation for parasitic infections for decades, but public health guidance is unanimous that veterinary products are not an acceptable substitute and that human formulations should come from legitimate pharmaceutical manufacturers and supply chains [8][7].
5. What reporting leaves unsaid: manufacturing locations and company names
The sources reviewed describe regulatory categories, formulations, retail channels and risks but do not supply a comprehensive list of factories, country‑level manufacturing footprints or corporate manufacturers for human versus animal ivermectin — therefore this account cannot specify where individual batches are physically made or name which companies produce human tablets versus veterinary injectables without additional primary manufacturer disclosure or regulatory manufacturing records [1][2]. Independent verification from regulatory approvals, drug labels or company filings would be required to trace specific manufacturing sites or firms.