Ivermectin Influencer Danny Lemoi
Ivermectin side effects reviewed as influencer Danny Lemoi dies of possible reactions (Image via UNILAD)

Popular Ivermectin influencer Danny Lemoi was found dead on Friday, March 3, having reportedly succumbed to certain common side effects of the drug. Although the exact cause of his death is still unknown, many sources have reported the ingestion of Ivermectin to be the reason.

Danny Lemoi is known to have taken and promoted the use of veterinary Ivermectin, which is a de-wormer meant to be given to large animals such as cows and horses. He administered a daily dose of the drug to himself. 

When Ivermectin rose to fame as a popular alternative treatment drug for COVID-19 amongst those who were opposed to vaccination, Lemoi launched his Telegram channel. It became one of the largest on the platform, dedicated to encouraging the use of the drug as a cure-all, and it included instructions for administration to even children.

Exploring the controversy around Danny Lemoi’s death

Despite the wide speculation surrounding the use of Ivermectin as the possible cause of Lemoi’s death, the administratiors of his channels have continued to push the promotion of the drug.

This has come under fire as his followers are now expressing concern over possible side effects, while some have also begun to question the safety of the medication. Some reports have also suggested that Lemoi had an enlarged heart condition, however, nothing has been confirmed as of yet.

The administrators of his Telegram channel were the ones who informed Lemoi’s followers about his death in the first place, writing, “Though it was obvious that Danny had the biggest heart, it was unbeknownst to him that his heart was quite literally overworking and overgrowing beyond its capacity, nearly doubled in size from what it should have been.” They further added, “We understand that this is going to raise questions for those who were following him.” 

According to the administrators, Lemoi had his heart tested last year, but there had been no concerning results. 

He started taking Ivermectin in 2012 after being diagnosed with Lyme disease. This piece of information comes from the account of Lemoi’s medical history given by him on a podcast last year in November. He had then gone on to say that he had quit all his other treatments five months into taking the drug as he believed that Ivermectin had “regenerated” his cardiac muscles. 

FDA reports on the use of Ivermectin

As per the reports by the Missouri Poison Center, the ingestion of large Ivermectin doses designed for animals could have multiple side effects. These include seizures, lung issues, cardiac problems, and coma.

According to repeated warnings by the FDA, veterinary Ivermectin is not an effective treatment or cure for COVID-19. The government body has stated that it is highly concentrated as it is formulated for larger animals such as cows and horses, cautioning that, “Such high doses can be highly toxic in humans.” 

Twitter reacts to the use of Ivermectin after Danny Lemoi’s death

Many Twitter users immediately started questioning the safety of the drug once the news of the influencer’s death broke the internet. Further, concern was expressed for the administration of the drug to children of the followers who had been acting upon Lemoi’s advice.

Some were also quick to compare the drug with “horse paste,” while a few others talked about how one should never fall for such hoaxes on the internet.

Furthermore, twitteratis also fired shots at the ones opposed to taking vaccines, stating that the latter found it more convenient to believe and use a drug for horses than consult a physician.

What is Ivermectin and what are its side effects?

Ivermectin belongs to a class of drugs known as anthelmintics, which kills or paralyzes parasites in the body. A dose can be given to patients orally along with water, as prescribed by the physician.

The factors regarding its administration include a patient’s pre-existing medical conditions, body weight, and response to the treatment. Common side effects of the drug can be headache, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, or muscle pain.

If someone is getting treated for onchocerciasis or river blindness, they might also experience the effects of the dying parasites for the first four days of the treatment. The effects can also include swelling, redness or pain in the eye, changes in vision, joint pain, tender or swollen lymph nodes, weakness, rashes, fever, and itchiness. If these symptoms continue, then they must contact their physician.

Some severe side effects include neck or back pain, chest pain, palpitations, confusion, loss of consciousness, swelling of the face and limbs, drowsiness, or seizures.

Roshni Ganguly
https://www.spieltimes.com/author/roshni
Roshni Ganguly has a post-graduate degree in English Literature and is currently pursuing a degree in French. In her spare time, Roshni is an avid reader and an incredible artist who has a masterful hand when it comes to botanical art.