What are the symptoms of ivermectin overdose?

1. What symptoms are repeatedly reported — a plain list

Multiple government and clinical sources list gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), cardiovascular findings (hypotension/low blood pressure), allergic reactions (itching, hives), and a range of neurologic effects including dizziness, ataxia (loss of balance), confusion, decreased consciousness, hallucinations, seizures, coma and death ^{[1] [2] [5]}. Drugs-information pages and side‑effect compilations similarly flag nervous-system effects such as somnolence, vertigo, tremor and rare encephalopathy in certain parasitic infections ^{[6] [4]}.

2. Why veterinary products make overdoses worse

Reporting emphasizes that some people consumed veterinary ivermectin products formulated for large animals (horses, cattle) that are far more concentrated; using those formulations can cause toxic overdoses in humans ^{[1] [4]}. Public health messages — including the FDA’s blunt warnings — stress that those products are not for human use and that “you are not a horse” because concentration differences raise the risk of severe adverse events ^{[1] [2]}.

3. How frequent and how severe are overdose reports

Poison-control calls about ivermectin rose markedly during the COVID-19 pandemic period, and health officials reported hospitalizations and at least some deaths linked to ivermectin toxicity in the U.S. ^{[1] [7]}. Media and public‑health pieces note a five‑fold rise in related poison‑control calls in one CDC report window and describe at least two hospitalized patients in early reporting ^[1]. Exact national death tallies attributable to ivermectin specifically are not compiled in the provided sources beyond isolated reports ^{[1] [7]}.

4. What experts and authorities recommend if you suspect overdose

Clinical guidance and consumer-health pages advise contacting a physician, calling poison control (1‑800‑222‑1222 in the U.S.), or calling emergency services immediately for severe symptoms; these recommendations appear in a patient‑focused dosage guide and public‑health advisories ^{[3] [2]}. Drugs and adverse‑effect compilations likewise instruct seeking urgent care for signs consistent with overdose ^{[6] [4]}.

5. Where evidence and disagreement exist

Medical trials and authoritative guidelines cited in the sources state ivermectin is approved for specific parasitic illnesses but not authorized for COVID‑19 treatment; numerous clinical trials failed to show meaningful benefit for COVID‑19, which contextualized off‑label use and subsequent toxicities ^{[4] [8] [7]}. Some outlets discuss possible experimental or investigational uses (for example, cancer research or small trials), but those are separate from overdose-safety guidance; claims that ivermectin is a broadly effective treatment for COVID‑19 or cancer are not supported by the overdose/toxicity sources and, where present, are framed as investigational or speculative ^{[9] [5]}. The conservative note: sources do not provide a comprehensive dose–toxicity curve or a single “overdose threshold” for humans — available sources do not mention an exact universal toxic dose in mg/kg for all populations (not found in current reporting).

6. Hidden drivers and practical implications

Several sources link spikes in misuse to public demand during COVID‑19 and to political and regulatory shifts (prescribing surges, some states moving to over‑the‑counter availability), which increases the chance of unsupervised use and potential overdoses ^{[1] [10] [11]}. That background helps explain why poison‑control calls and hospitalizations rose: greater access and misinformation led some people to take inappropriate formulations or doses ^{[1] [7]}.

7. Bottom line for readers

If someone has taken more ivermectin than prescribed or consumed veterinary formulations, expect gastrointestinal distress (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) and watch closely for neurologic signs (dizziness, confusion, ataxia, seizures) and cardiovascular collapse (hypotension); seek immediate medical care or contact poison control/emergency services ^{[1] [2] [3]}. Health agencies caution that ivermectin is authorized for certain parasitic infections only and warn strongly against using veterinary products or self‑treating for COVID‑19 ^{[2] [4]}.

Sources cited above: KSAT reporting of CDC guidance ^[1]; Medical News Today overdose guidance ^[3]; Drugs.com and side‑effect data ^{[4] [6]}; FDA consumer update ^[2]; Everyday Health and CNN contextual reporting on overdoses and availability ^{[5] [7]}; NBC/other coverage about OTC availability and risks ^[10].