A Utah Republican lawmaker has filed legislation that would make the antiparasitic drug ivermectin available over the counter at pharmacies.
House Bill 96, introduced by state Rep. Trevor Lee (R-UT), would allow pharmacists to dispense ivermectin without an individual, patient-specific prescription if a doctor preauthorizes distribution and the pharmacist conducts a state-approved risk assessment.
Pharmacists would be prohibited from dispensing the drug if they determine it is unsafe for a customer.
Lee said the proposal is a part of broader medical freedom goals and aligns with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.
The initiative was launched under President Donald Trump’s administration and aims to address chronic disease and reshape public health priorities.
Lee has also pushed legislation to reduce the number of required vaccines for school-aged children, following suit with HHS’s reevaluation of the childhood vaccine schedule.
While the drug is known for use in livestock treatment, ivermectin is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to combat parasites and, in some cases, used as a topical treatment for skin conditions related to parasites or rosacea.
Ivermectin gained high-profile attention early in the COVID-19 pandemic after online creators, such as podcaster Joe Rogan, promoted it as a treatment or preventive for the virus.
Major public health organizations, including the FDA and the World Health Organization, do not recommend ivermectin as treatment for COVID outside of clinical trials.
Lee said he decided to sponsor the bill after people started turning to veterinarians or livestock stores to acquire the medication.
According to the FDA, ivermectin products made for animals are distinctly different from those safe for human consumption.
A dose of ivermectin purchased at a livestock supply store is typically meant to supplement a 12,000-pound horse or other large livestock. The FDA warns that large doses of ivermectin without a healthcare provider’s prescription can be dangerous.
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Several other states have passed legislation expanding ivermectin access, such as Texas, which passed a bill in December making it available over the counter without a prescription. RFK Jr. praised the move in Texas during a MAHA bill signing.
Arizona state Rep. Nickolas Kupper (R-AZ) has also introduced a bill to make ivermectin over the counter, arguing that caffeine and nicotine, which are known to be harmful, are easily accessible.
