subject: Ivermectin And The Avermectin Family [print this page] Ivermectin, an antiparasitic agent which is insoluble and unstable in water, is solubilized by the formation of colloidal particles, called micelles, with surface active agents as solubilizers and stabilized by using cosolvents and/or appropriate substrates in the aqueous formulation. The liquid formulations are suitable for use as parenteral or oral administration for the treatment of parasitic infections.
Ivermectin and the avermectin family, of which Ivermectin Drench is a member, is a series of new and very potent antiparasitic agents which are useful against a broad spectrum of endoparasites and ectoparasites in mammals as well as having agricultural uses against various parasites found in and on crops and in soil. Ivermectin is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,569, issued Apr. 22, 1980 to Chabala and Fisher. Ivermectin is a mixture, in the ratio of approximately 80:20 of 22,23-dihydro C-076 Bla and Blb. In administering ivermectin injection to animals it is most convenient for parenteral formulations to use an aqueous solution. Non-aqueous solutions tend to cause irritation and tissue damage at the injection site; precipitate the active ingredient at the injection site, have higher viscosity and poorer syringability; and generally have a higher cost. Aqueous liquid formulations for oral use are also preferred over non-aqueous formulations because non-aqueous solvents tend to have an unacceptable taste.
Several medicines are available to treat parasite-borne diseases in pets. Among the most effective, according to Dr. Dawn Ruben in an article for Pet Place, is ivermectin -- the active ingredient in well-known products such as Heartgard and Iverhart.. Ivermectin injections are most often used by veterinarians to treat heart worm disease and mange. Some pet guardians choose to use an ivermectin injection as a heart worm preventative because it is generally less expensive than heart worm preventative pills. But this practice is generally discouraged because of several accompanying risk factors.
