Summary of "Change your practice"

Summary of Key Wellness Strategies, Self-Care Techniques, and Productivity Tips from the Video “Change your practice”

A natural medicine derived from bacteria found in soil, discovered in 1975.
Initially used in veterinary medicine for conditions like heartworm and ascariasis.
Approved for human use in 1987.
Nobel Prize awarded in 2015 to its discoverers William Campbell and Satoshi Ōmura.
Considered safe when used at recommended doses by the FDA and WHO.

Ivermectin is used to treat a variety of parasitic infections and has emerging applications in other medical areas:

Parasitic infections:
- River blindness (onchocerciasis)
- Lymphatic filariasis (annual dosing to kill worms)
- Strongylobacteriosis
- Head lice (oral and topical forms)
- Lava migrans and other skin parasites
Emerging uses:
- Cancer treatment, notably breast cancer
- Dengue fever
- Viral infections including influenza and potentially COVID-19 (though official approval for COVID-19 is lacking)
Malaria control:
- Used in mass treatment programs to reduce malaria transmission by killing mosquitoes that feed on treated individuals.

Dosage varies depending on the disease:
- For filariasis and river blindness: one dose per year.
- For severe parasitic infections (e.g., scabies): two-dose regimen spaced one week apart.
- For mass treatment, dosing may be extended over several days or weeks depending on the infection.
Combination therapy:
- Often combined with albendazole or other antiparasitic drugs for enhanced effect.
- Can be co-administered with antibiotics (e.g., amoxicillin) to improve patient outcomes.
Available in both topical and oral forms for skin conditions and lice.

Generally safe within recommended dosages.
Toxicity and serious side effects (such as neurotoxicity and CNS depression) occur only at toxic doses.
Avoid use during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Use caution in patients with hyperinfection due to risk of inflammatory reactions.
Minimal transfer in breast milk; considered safe during breastfeeding.

Encourage trying ivermectin in clinical practice, especially for parasitic infections resistant to other treatments.
Observe and compare patient outcomes using ivermectin versus traditional antibiotics.
Use ivermectin in combination therapies to enhance effectiveness.
Educate patients and colleagues about ivermectin’s broad benefits and safety profile.
Consider ivermectin for gastrointestinal disturbances linked to parasites.
Employ ivermectin in mass treatment settings for parasitic diseases and malaria control.

Pharmaceutical companies may resist ivermectin’s widespread use due to its low cost and broad efficacy.
The drug’s discovery involved a combination of chance, hard work, and serendipity.
Greater public and professional openness to ivermectin can lead to improved patient care and reduced antibiotic overuse.
Positive patient feedback and clinical improvements motivate continued advocacy for ivermectin use.

The primary speaker (unnamed doctor)
Dr. Ahmed A.A. Dahshan (colleague sharing positive ivermectin experiences)
William Campbell and Satoshi Ōmura (Nobel laureates credited with ivermectin discovery)