These States Now Allow OTC Ivermectin, and More May Follow

[eppur_se_muova]

43. All metazoans -- no viruses. Mechanism of action involves neurotrasmitters, which viruses do not have.

It is effective against a wide range of parasites, including gastrointestinal roundworms, lungworms, mites, lice and hornflies.7–12) Ivermectin is also highly effective against ticks, for example, the ixodid tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, one of the most important cattle parasites in the tropics and subtropics, which causes enormous economic damage.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3043740/

Mode of action

Initially, researchers working on the development of ivermectin believed that it blocked neurotransmitters, acting on GABA-gated Cl- channels, exhibiting potent disruption at GABA receptors in invertebrates and mammals. GABA is recognised as the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the somatic neuromuscular system of nematodes. Subsequently, they discovered that it was in fact glutamate-gated Cl- channels (GUCl- ) that were the target of ivermectin and related drugs. This discovery opened up a completely new spectrum of possibilities, as these channels, although playing fundamental roles in nematodes and insects, are not accessible in vertebrates.41–43) Ivermectin, while paralyzing body-wall and pharyngeal muscle in nematodes has no such impact in mammals, as it cannot cross the blood-brain barrier into the mammalian Central Nervous System, where GABA receptors are located.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3043740/#sec7

Interesting to read that it really is a wonder drug where invertebrate infections are involved, but the wonder is sharply limited. No action against vertebrates, or (evidently) against viruses.