Human Ivermectin Tablets vs. Animal Ivermectin Products: Why They Are Not the Same

The same name on very different products

Ivermectin comes up a lot in conversation, and people looking for it often find two very different kinds of product. One is a tablet prepared for people and dispensed by a pharmacy on a prescription. The other is sold at farm and feed stores for horses, cattle and other animals. They share a name, but they are not interchangeable, and it is worth knowing why before you go looking.

What animal ivermectin products are

Ivermectin products for animals, such as oral pastes for horses and pour-on liquids for cattle, are made and labeled for animals. They are formulated for the size and species of the animal on the label, and their inactive ingredients are chosen for that use. The labels say they are for animal use, and they are not dispensed on a prescription written for a person.

That is the whole difference in one sentence: a human tablet is prepared for a named person on a prescription, and an animal product is made for animals.

What a human ivermectin tablet is

At ProCompounding we prepare compounded ivermectin tablets for people, made to order for each patient at our PCAB-accredited 503A pharmacy in Johnson City, Tennessee. Every tablet is prepared for a named patient, at the strength and quantity on the prescription, and a licensed pharmacist reviews every request before anything is dispensed.

Ivermectin is not a controlled substance, but it is a prescription medication for people. Our compounded ivermectin tablets page explains what we prepare and how an order works.

How to get it filled

There are two routes, depending on where you live:

1. Anywhere in the United States: your own licensed prescriber sends a prescription to us. Already have a prescription at another pharmacy? You can transfer it to us and we will take it from there.
2. In Tennessee: there is a second route. Under our collaborative pharmacy practice agreement (Tenn. Code § 63-10-224), you can complete a secure form and a licensed pharmacist reviews your request and decides whether dispensing is appropriate. Dispensing is never guaranteed. Our guide to ivermectin in Tennessee explains how it works.

The Tennessee route is Tennessee law, so it is for patients in Tennessee. Outside Tennessee, ivermectin requires a prescription from your own prescriber.

We have a 48-hour compounding time on most preparations. Shipping time is additional, and we are licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Call 423-975-0597 for current pricing and shipping options for your state.

Talking with your prescriber

Whether ivermectin is right for you, and at what strength, is a decision for you and your prescriber. Tell them about everything else you take, including over-the-counter products, vitamins and supplements. If you are weighing ivermectin on its own against our two-medication program, our post on standalone ivermectin vs. the parasite cleanse program walks through the differences.

For telehealth programs

If you run a telehealth program whose prescribers write for ivermectin, we prepare patient-specific ivermectin tablets for partner programs too. See ivermectin fulfillment for telehealth programs.

Compounded preparations are not reviewed or approved by the FDA for safety or efficacy. This article is for education and reflects what we see in clinical practice; it is not medical advice. Decisions about your care rest with your prescriber.