The Wonder Drug War – Ivermectin, COVID and Politics!

First, let me be clear: I’m not a doctor. I’m simply reporting on the politics surrounding the human use of Ivermectin. What’s unfolding is a fascinating and high-stakes battle between the FDA and Big Pharma on one side, and doctors and citizens in the health freedom movement—whom I support—on the other.

The central question, simmering since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, is this: Can Ivermectin effectively treat viruses, including COVID-19?

The fight has been intense. A group of Texas doctors sued the FDA for interfering with their ability to prescribe Ivermectin. The FDA’s public messaging included condescending posts such as:

“You are not a horse; you are not a cow. Seriously, y’all, stop it.”
“Hold your horses, y’all. Ivermectin may be trending, but it still isn’t authorized or recommended to treat #COVID.”
Read the legal case here.

The FDA settled the lawsuit in 2024, possibly seeing which way the political winds were blowing. But the case exposed what many believe is the FDA’s deep-seated resistance to Ivermectin’s human use in treating viruses.

So where does the issue stand now?

Four states—Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Idaho—have passed legislation allowing over-the-counter (OTC) access to Ivermectin. However, despite these laws, OTC sales remain stalled, likely due to lack of FDA approval for off-label human use. This was confirmed multiple times during hearings in the Arkansas House and Senate.

Several other states, including Texas, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Alabama, West Virginia, and Missouri, have pending legislation that would expand access to Ivermectin. If passed, this could increase pressure on the FDA.

But why is Ivermectin at the center of such a fierce battle?

In my opinion: money and power. The FDA appears to be protecting its regulatory turf, while Big Pharma protects its profits. On the other side are health freedom advocates and doctors who have seen firsthand Ivermectin’s effectiveness and affordability. Many also recommend it as a preventive treatment for COVID-19.

So, what is Ivermectin?

According to the NIH:
Discovered in the late 1970s, Ivermectin originated from a microorganism in Japanese soil. Initially a veterinary drug, it proved life-changing for humans too—successfully combating diseases like River Blindness and Strongyloidiasis. It’s now widely used and even provided free of charge in some global health campaigns. Many have called it a “wonder drug.”
Read the full NIH article here.

A 2020 South Florida study published by the NIH reviewed 280 patients—173 treated with Ivermectin, 107 without. The results:

• Mortality was significantly lower in the Ivermectin group (15.0% vs. 25.2%, p = .03)

• For patients with severe pulmonary issues, the mortality dropped from 80.7% to 38.8% (p = .001)
  Read the study here

Despite this, filling prescriptions for off-label Ivermectin remains a challenge. A local Kansas doctor told me it’s nearly impossible to get a pharmacy to fill such a prescription in our state.

After hours of research, including listening to legislative testimony in Arkansas, and considering the billions of safe human doses already administered, I believe Kansas should follow suit. If I were Governor, I would gladly sign a bill allowing OTC access to Ivermectin.

However, until the FDA relents, state-level legislation remains a symbolic standoff.

Let’s be honest: the steamroller is coming. Ivermectin is already sold OTC for animals, and people are buying it from feed stores for personal use—something repeatedly mentioned in Arkansas legislative testimony.

My opinion:
FDA and Big Pharma—it’s time to raise the white flag.
Or, to borrow the FDA’s own language: the horse is already out of the barn.

Charlotte O’Hara
Republican for Kansas Governor, 2026